He’s a tough character who also displays a lot of patience on screen. Off-screen, he has a heart for serving the men and women in blue and our military heroes.
Cole Hauser, better known to the world these days as Rip Wheeler from the hit Western drama “Yellowstone,” was appointed an honorary Fort Worth police officer on Wednesday, April 17, according to their social media.
The on-screen ranch foreman was honored as “a small token of his respect and support for the men and women in blue who serve our community, our military members, and veterans.”
Hauser has a history of silently helping multiple organizations and families of fallen service members. Hauser is a board member of the Special Operation Warrior Foundation. This non-profit provides educational scholarships for surviving children of fallen and severely wounded Special Operations Warriors. Since its founding in 1980, the charity has awarded 1,100 scholarships to youth.
Hauser spoke about his involvement with the charity to CBS News.
“I’m a big fan of second chances. For kids, when they lose a family member…it’s a huge loss for them and the idea that they have a second chance to go and educate themselves. Maybe it’s just my way of serving…this country, the soldiers, their families.”
Hauser doesn’t stop with just financial contributions. He has also been on a USO Tour in Afghanistan and visited Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
The Yellowstone actor found his inspiration to be involved with military families from his late grandfather. In an interview with Southern Living, Hauser said Milton Sterling, a WWII marine who ultimately found Hollywood to be a producer and screenwriter, is behind his efforts. Sterling, Hauser’s grandfather, contributed to the films “Battle of the Bulge,” “The Court-Marshall of Billy Mitchell,” and more.
With continued involvement and a stellar sense of community, it is no wonder the Fort Worth Police Department thought enough of Hauser and his efforts to make him an Honorary Police Officer.
