Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Keith McCord ReportingHere's the kind of a story that makes our country great! We want you to meet LeRoy Terry, a barber in Layton. He's been cutting hair a long, long, LONG time.
In the tiny brick building on Main Street in Layton, it's just another day for 91-year old Leroy Terry. He's giving Frank Simmons a trim -- Frank's been a client for oh, 30-years or so. Yep, LeRoy Terry has had scissors and clippers in his hands for years!
LeRoy Terry: "I started cutting hair in the first place on the day before dad died, on the second of May, 1945."
And he hasn't stopped since. After barber school he's cut hair in Moab, Hurricane, Hill Air Force Base and at four shops in Layton. That's a lot of heads.
LeRoy Terry: "Well 10 or 15 years ago, some guy tried to figure it out. He had me at a half million then, and I think there's a good million haircuts by now!"
There's no phone inside the shop. There's no barberpole, not even a sign. But longtime customers of Leroy Terry know where he is.
Five days a week, from 9 to 5, he's there. Between 30 and 50 people drop by every week. So why doesn't he have a phone? Doesn't want one!
LeRoy Terry: "Because if I'm shaving a guy's face an the phone rings, then I gotta stop."
LeRoy Terry will stop cutting hair soon. There's a sign on the door announcing his retirement at the end of the month. Word is getting out, and long time customers and friends are dropping by with best wishes. The city has issued proclamations thanking the man who's no doubt the oldest proprietor in town!
As one of the few real "barbers" in the country, Terry admits he'll miss his little shop.
LeRoy Terry: "The sad time is that I wont get to see all these guys and talk with them, and have yarns and jokes and good stuff, you know."
But he says it's time to relax and spend more time at home with his wife.
Just think of him, the next time you're feeling too tired or bored to go to work!
