A Life of Service

A young Cole with his mother and father, Jennifer and Jeffrey Epley

Born to a US Army Infantryman and a Medicaid specialist, Cole Epley was instilled with the work ethic and moral drive needed to one day advocate for others. Living in Rose Hill, KS and getting his K-12 education within it's public school system, he understands the value and meaning of small communities.

Cole's first true love in school was band. Quickly identifying his band directors as his life mentors and role models, he unknowingly set himself up for success by mirroring men who genuinely cared about the wellbeing of children and the communities around them. As the end of high school came about, what was important became clear: make his father proud and join the US Army, but also continue his passion for music by following in his mentors' footsteps. With endless hours of preparation, discipline, and practice, Cole passed his army music audition at 17-years-old and made the leap into army basic training less than a week after graduating high school.

While humbly knowing his MOS (army specific role/job) was nothing like his father's, he is proud to have been sent to Fort Benning, GA to complete his Basic Combat Training like his father just 25 years prior, getting to share a special bond that he didn't expect would be so important to the both of them.

Newly graduated Specialist Cole Epley and Major Jeffrey Epley. *Use of military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army or Department of Defense.

Upon completing the rest of his training at the Army School of Music, Cole returned to Wichita and attended Butler Community College for a semester before transferring to the University of Kansas to follow through with his second goal of becoming a band director and inspiring students the same way his mentors did. In college, to make an impact in his community, Cole became involved in political activism in Lawrence and Kansas City.

Cole was a member of the KU Marching Band for four years, serving the last two as the mellophone section leader.

Despite academic setbacks due to the passing of his father, mental health issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Cole pushed through and completed his music education degree. Even with achieving this goal however, Cole had never felt less sure about his future and how he wanted to better his community.

For the final time, Cole returned back to Wichita. Now unsure about music education, Cole followed the one true through line of all his previous goals–his love for advocating and caring for people–and took a leap of faith on a job opportunity in the field of foster care social work.

Assuming the role of a case coordinator for five to seven teenage boys in a group home as their primary caretaker, Cole instantly found his professional calling. Cole continued in that role for two years before becoming a foster care case manager for young adults transitioning out of the foster care system.

Recently, due to the financial and employment instability of social work, Cole currently finds alternate ways to help his community. He continues to serve in the US Army Reserves (10 years strong), takes care of the house, and puts his efforts towards this political campaign. Everyday he roots for his younger brother, a U.S. Marine in flight school, and his younger sister, a payroll specialist working alongside their mother. He could not be more thankful to his amazing partner Anna, an ICU nurse, for enabling and supporting him to take this leap of faith in order to advocate for everyone.

Cole and his better half, Anna

Cole's background and life circumstances have prepared him to be an advocate, a helping hand, and a leader in his community. Receiving your support, whether through word-of-mouth, donations, or even volunteering, would help him in his campaign to represent Kansas Congressional District 4.