Published: May 17, 2008 09:06 pm         

Lewisburg’s Court Barber Shop

81-year-old barber has no plans to retire

LEWISBURG — When Frank “Windy” Windon began his career as a barber in 1951, one dollar could purchase about five gallons of gas. Shell out another buck and a fellow could get his head buzzed, too.

Provided that styling was not the era’s hottest trend.

“When I started out as a barber, a regular haircut was $1 and a flat-top cost $1.25,” Windon said in between customers at the Court Barber Shop in Lewisburg.

A lifelong resident of Greenbrier County, the 81-year-old Windon recently received a certificate from the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists in recognition of his 50 years of cutting hair.

And as the soft-spoken Maxwelton resident begins his 51st year of lowering ears, he says retirement plans are not in his immediate future.

Each Thursday through Saturday, Windon can still be found in the second chair alongside barber John Humphries, the owner of Court Barber Shop.

“I won’t be retiring anytime soon, not unless I have to,” Windon said.

A World War II Navy veteran who served overseas in Japan in 1945 and 1946, Windon began his career at age 32 and has cut thousands of heads of hair in his 50-plus years as a barber.

Through the years, he and wife Freeda raised five girls and one boy in their marriage which has also lasted over 50 years.

“I’m the only barber in the family,” Windon said with a grin. “That’s all I know how to do.”

Windon’s personality may also come as a surprise to those entering the barber shop for the first time.

While he will lower your ears with a smile, don’t expect to get an earful of hot air.

“If a customer wants to talk, I will talk,” he said. “If he doesn’t, then I won’t.”

These days, Windon said, a haircut costs $10 and the most popular style is called “high and tight” — the sides of and back of the head are commonly shaved with a razor and the top is crewcut length.

After cutting hair for over a half century, Windon did have a few simple words of wisdom for any young barber trying to make it in today’s world.

“You have to be in the shop every day if you want to build a business like this,” Windon said.

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com