Columns

He's still sharper than any razor he's used

By ANDREW SKERRITT
Published January 14, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Zach Boyden-Holmes] Jack Crawford cuts John Keppel's hair as Harvey Holt waits for a trim Friday in his Trilacoochee shop.

When Harvey Holt settled into the middle chair at Jack's Barber Shop on Friday morning, he didn't need to tell the barber how he wanted his hair cut.

Holt, 87, has been driving from Dade City to Trilacoochee to get his monthly haircut from Jack Crawford longer than either man could remember.

Crawford is 89, and he's still cutting hair six days a week, Mondays through Saturdays. He has a zest for life men half his age would envy.

When he knocks off at noon on the weekend, he drives more than 80 miles to Winter Haven to see his girlfriend, Susie, whom he met over the Internet. She's 88.

After Allie, Jack's wife of more than 60 years, died in 2002, one of his grandsons wanted to help him find a new companion. He typed in Jack's age, height and other personal information.

Soon afterward, he got a reply from Susie. Since then, every Saturday he drives in his Caprice Classic to visit her. They go out to socialize and attend shows on Saturday. On Sunday, they attend church together.

"She's keeps me on a leash," he said.

On Monday mornings, he drives home and opens up the barber shop. He won't neglect his customers and his first love. His customers, though, always ask about his girl.

Jack has two feet first planted in the past and present, but he's clearly banking on his future.

Jack learned to cut hair in the Army after he joined up in 1943. After he returned home from World War II, he cut hair and raised cows to provide for Allie and their five children.

He has been cutting hair for more than 60 years, and he hasn't grown tired of the hum of the clippers and the snip of his scissors.

"The doctor wants him to quit, but he won't. He's a workaholic," said Charlie, Jack's oldest son.

The only thing that has slowed him down are bum legs that were frostbitten in Germany during World War II. But they're still able. So are his hands. There is not a hint of tremor in his fingers. He likes to show off their steadiness.

Not much has changed at the barber shop. No cable TV. No frills. The price for a haircut at Jack's hasn't changed much in the past 50 years. If you want a haircut elsewhere, it will cost at least $10. At Jack's, the sign says $3 a haircut. "And it ain't even worth that much," Jack quipped.

He can afford to charge that little even though business isn't brisk. His sons own the building. Nowadays, he'll see about half a dozen customers a day. When it gets really busy he'll see as many as 20 or 25. Afternoons tend to be really slow. But fast or slow, Jack doesn't dawdle on anyone's hair. He starts at the back with clippers and comb and finishes on top with scissors and comb - snip, snip. In less than 10 minutes, the chair is empty, and Jack can read his newspaper as he waits for the next customer.

Friday, the paper had to wait. As he was cutting Holt's hair, a youngish couple walked in. At Jack's, anyone who looks younger than 80 is considered young.

Andrew Skerritt can be reached at 813 909-4602 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 4602. His e-mail address is askerritt@sptimes.com.

[Last modified January 13, 2007, 20:12:10]