By Tamara Linse
Now that they’re retired, Lefty and Carla Cole sometimes take their breakfast out
on the porch. It’s no ordinary porch, though. They own the 4,000-acre Deerwood Ranch
in the Centennial valley west of Laramie, as well as the Vee Bar Guest Ranch. And
so, at 8,000 feet, their morning coffee commands quite a view and may be interrupted
by wild horses, bugling elk or even ranch guests.
“You’re looking at two of the luckiest people in the world,” Lefty Cole says.
“We’ve been really fortunate,” Carla Cole adds.
It’s taken a lot of work to get this far, but it hasn’t daunted them. “I’m pretty passionate about working,” he says. “I think that that’s a great way to spend your time.”
Working hard: The Coles married while still attending UW, and their oldest son, Kelly, was born six weeks before Carla Cole graduated with a degree in education. A year ahead, Lefty Cole first earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering and then a master’s in structural engineering.
He was then hired by Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc., a national construction firm. It was a rewarding job for Cole—outdoors, with an opportunity to invest in the company. However, they moved 22 times in 21 years, while having two more children, Jana and Curt.
Western adventures: When Lefty Cole retired at 45, they sold their stock and bought the Deerwood. “We had our hands on that money for six days and bought this ranch,” he says. “It took everything I had and then some.”
Ranching at 8,000 feet isn’t easy, however. They tried a cow-calf operation. They tried running yearlings. Then they ventured into land development and the hospitality industry through the Vee Bar Guest Ranch. “The Vee Bar was our last subdivision,” Lefty Cole explains. Other family ventures include Deerwood Log Homes, started by Kelly, and the first-of-its-kind Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse EcoSanctuary, started by Jana and her husband. Carla Cole, along with their daughter and daughter-in-law, also run the Country Junction store in Centennial.
Through it all, they were able to keep their family close by, something for which they’re very thankful. Most of their children and grandchildren also attended UW.
Giving back: Lefty Cole attended UW on a football scholarship, and Carla Cole attended with the help of a grant. The financial support made a huge difference in their lives. “We would have probably got through some way or another, but it sure made it easy—and fun—to go through school,” he says.
Because of the support they received, the Coles remembered UW in their estate plans through a gift annuity. “We’ve been real fortunate in our business, and we just love the university,” Lefty Cole says. “We wanted to give back as much as we could.” Their gift will provide scholarships through the Cowboy Joe Club, as well as provide support for the UW Alumni Association.
“If I were to give some advice,” he says, “I’d say, ‘Make sure you get the right gal, make sure you find something you really enjoy doing, and then do it the best you can.’ After that, everything’s downhill.”
