If you know Steve Barker, you know a man who would literally give you the shirt off his back. You know a man who is kind, a talented actor, loyal friend and coworker, hardworking, loving, honest and true.

You may not know that Steve has struggled with alcohol addiction for probably most of his adult life. We both come by this naturally as our dad, and uncle and grandfather all struggled with addiction. The thing about addiction is you can still function and "do life', and unless you spend a lot of time together, you may never know the depth of that addiction. And the human body can withstand a tremendous amount of abuse from addiction, until it can't.

Last week, Steve and his body and his addiction hit a crossroads, and he could no longer hide the level of alcohol related physical illness, depression and despair he has been living with for years.

I am eternally grateful to Steve for choosing to do whatever he can to save his life. He allowed me to take him to an in-patient alcohol detox program last Monday and today (1-23-23) he is moving into a 30 day addiction treatment program. He almost didn't stay for the treatment program because he was worried about letting down his boss and getting behind in his bills.

Here's the kicker. For all of Steve's adult life he has worked in some facet of the alcohol industry; from bartender at the Playboy Mansion to being a whiskey and beer expert at a high end liquor store. Not only is Steve facing his addiction, but he is facing the very real probability of starting a new career at the age of 51.

Steve is so blessed to be a friend to many. The few people I have shared this with have all asked, "What can I do to help?". Here is my answer, please consider giving Steve "One Last Tip". Imagine you are sitting at his bar, finishing up your evening after he has served you well and give him a tip (financial and life!). He has allowed me and our mom to make sure his cats are taken care of and that the life he has created for himself here in Tulsa will still be here for him after his 30 days of in-patient rehabilitation and therapy. We would love for him to know he has a financial cushion to support his modest lifestyle for several months while he figures out his next steps career-wise and learns how to live without alcohol. Mom and I will make sure the "tips" he receives will go directly toward his living expenses like mortgage, insurance, utilities, and food. Steve knows I am sharing this information and making this request for help on his behalf.

From the bottom of my heart, I and my family thank you for being a friend to our beloved brother, son & uncle, Steve.