The Boar Named Bob

COLE BARKER

COLE BARKER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Our Mission Statement

The Cole Barker Memorial Scholarship Fund is dedicated to fostering a brighter future by supporting graduates and children’s literacy, reading, and writing development. We aim to empower graduates and young minds by providing financial assistance to students, encouraging a lifelong love for learning, and promoting equitable access to quality education. Through our commitment to literacy, we strive to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and confidence in every child, helping them unlock their full potential and build a foundation for academic and personal success.

Upcoming Events

February 25-March 2, 2025 Art of the Cowgirl
Phoenix, Arizona

May 8-10, 2025 Western Heritage
Abilene, Texas

Jill Lowry Interview with Sue

“Don’t Buy the Book Until You’ve Heard the Backstory!”

Before you dive into the pages of this powerful story, take a moment to watch a heartfelt interview that will give you the why behind it all.

Join Jill Lowry, bestselling Christian author and host of Real Life Real People, as she sits down with Sue Barker, mother of Cole Barker, to share the moving backstory behind the book and the Cole Barker Memorial Scholarship Fund.

To date, this incredible fund has awarded 19 scholarships to deserving students, a living legacy that honors Cole’s memory and impacts the lives of many.

The conversation delves into the story’s origins, the journey of faith and perseverance, and the transformative purpose that inspired it all.

Don’t miss this inspiring interview—because understanding the heart of the story makes every page even more meaningful.

View on YouTube

ABOUT THE BOOK

While the book will celebrate the life Cole lived, the story itself wasn’t written to ever be published; in fact, it was homework. The narrative and illustrations inside the 32-page, soft cover book were inspired by Cole Barker’s very first hog hunt and were actually created when Cole was just 10 years old.

More than two decades ago, his fourth-grade teacher, Ms. Lawrence, gave her class an assignment to write a book. Young Cole begrudgingly completed the task and even tried to throw the book away after it was displayed at a parents’ night event. Ms. Lawrence, impressed and proud of his story, was undeterred and kept the book—which was dedicated to Bob Kearney, the man who took Cole on that very first hunt along with two other fathers—as an example for future students. The teacher even displayed it on a screen so that other children, especially boys who weren’t keen on writing a book, could see the art and the layout as Cole had imagined it.

Word got back to Ms. Lawrence of Cole’s passing and, within days of hearing the news, the retired teacher brought a well-worn copy of his book to Cole’s mother, Sue. A year later, Cole’s mother saw another children’s book in a store window and was inspired to help keep Cole’s memory alive. She reached out to a publisher to share his story, the publisher loved it, and “The Boar Named Bob” was born. At the same time, classmates from the Mount Vernon Class of 2000 came together to create the Cole Barker Memorial Scholarship Fund.

“Losing our son was nothing short of devastating but the love and support from Cole’s family and friends has helped lessen the heartache we face each day without him,” said Sue Barker. “Thanks to incredible teachers, like Ms. Lawrence, who can see potential, and friends, who band together, Cole’s book and his memory will touch more lives than we ever thought possible.”