S. Omar Barker (1894–1985) was an American cowboy poet, rancher, teacher, and politician from New Mexico. Born on a small ranch in Beulah, New Mexico, Barker grew up as the youngest of 11 children. He attended high school in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and later graduated from New Mexico Highlands University. Barker’s early career was diverse—he worked as a Spanish teacher, high school principal, forest ranger, and even served as a sergeant during World War I. From 1924 to 1926, he was a New Mexico House of Representatives member.
After his political career, Barker focused on writing, producing a vast body of work that included over 1,500 short stories, 2,000 poems, and numerous articles for publications ranging from pulp magazines to prestigious outlets like the Saturday Evening Post. His books include Buckaroo Ballads (1928) and Rawhide Rhymes (1968), which celebrate the spirit of the Old West.
Barker’s best-known work, “A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer,” has been widely printed and recorded. He earned multiple accolades, including two Western Writers of America Spur Awards and the Levi Strauss Saddleman Award in 1967. In 1978, he became the first living author inducted into the Hall of Fame of Great Westerners.
Known as the “Sage of Sapello” and the “Poet Lariat of New Mexico,” Barker collaborated with fellow Western writer Jack Potter and often signed his works with his trademark brand, “Lazy SOB.” He passed away in 1985 and was buried in the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
