Pete Ross
Clark Kent and Superboy's best friend. While on a camping trip, Pete discover's Clark's true identity but keeps it to himself. He aides Superboy in secret unbeknownst to him (SB No. 90/3, Jul 1961: "Pete Ross's Super Secret").
When Superboy, Mon-El, Shadow Lass and Duo Damsel (see Legion of Super-Heroes) are trapped in 20th Century Smallville by Mordru the Merciless, Pete's knowledge of Superboy's secret identity restores the Legionaires' memory. As a reward Mon-El hypnotizes Superboy into forgetting that Pete knows his secret because Mon-El realizes that Pete's knowledge of Clark's identity will save Superman in their future lives (Adv No. 369, Jun 1968, "Mordru the Merciless!").
Then and there, Ross vowed to keep his knowledge secret, even from Superman, and never reveal it to anyone else. On occasion, without Kent's knowledge, Ross even masqueraded as the young Clark Kent to help him preserve his secret identity.
Ross did eventually reveal his knowledge of Kent's secret when both men were adults, to recruit Superman to rescue Ross's son, Jonathan Ross (DCCP No. 13, Sep 1979: "To Live in Peace--Nevermore!"). Jon had been kidnapped by an alien species in order to be trained to fight in one of their perpetual wars. Superman atempted a rescue but was dissuaded by four members of the Legion of Super-Heroes—Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Sun Boy and Dawnstar—who convinced him that their historical records showed that Jon Ross would eventually play a pivotal role in an interstellar war. Unable to accept the reasons, Pete Ross suffered a psychotic break and used technology developed by Lex Luthor to reach into the past, kidnap Superboy, bring him to the present and switch consciousnesses with him (DCCP No. 14, Oct 1979: "Judge, Jury...and No Justice!"). In Superboy's body, Ross attempted to kill Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane and Perry White and use Kryptonite weapons against Superman. The intervention of Krypto unravelled the plan and Superman and Superboy (his consciousness in the body of the adult Pete Ross) co-operated to reverse the effects of Luthor's machines. Pete Ross was committed to a mental institution where he passed his time tearing up Superman posters.
Emotionally tormented by this result, Superman eventually decided to ignore the request of the LSH and retrieve Jon Ross, reuniting him with his father. This put Pete Ross on the road to recovery (DCCP No. 25, Sep 1980: "Judgment Night").
Honorary member: Legion of Super-Heroes.
External Links to Online Comics
"Pete Ross's Super Secret!" from Superboy No. 90 [1]
