"You have to show up and do your customers proud." Gene Williams
In early 1964, Lyndon Baines Johnson was president of the United States.
A British band, The Beatles, was a month away from appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show.
The Cleveland Browns football team would win the city’s last professional sports championship.
And on Jan. 5 that year, a 21-year-old named Gene Williams opened his own barbershop on state Route 87 in Newbury Township.
Now, after 50 years, two months and 17 days, Williams will end his career as owner of Gene’s Barber Shop and retire March 22.
“It’s my birthday,” he said.
Williams reflected on the half-century of haircuts, customers and memories his business brought him last Thursday with the Geauga County Maple Leaf.
The barber has lived in Newbury Township since he was 5 years old. He graduated from Newbury High School in 1960 and attended barber school afterward.
He took a barber job in South Euclid in 1961 and then a closer one in Chester Township a year later. Williams worked in Chester through 1963, then found his current parcel along the busy road.
“When I found the building, it was a two-car garage and there was a two-family home attached,” he said.
Although there were several other barbers in town, Williams said he worked hard to attract customers and provide them with excellent customer service. Over the past half-century, he estimated he has given haircuts to more than 200,000 customers.
For a short period of time, he operated other businesses in a room behind the barbershop. From 1974 to 1987, Williams — a karate instructor trained in mini-jiu-jitsu — operated a karate school for students. He also ran a tanning salon from 1989 to 1998.
In addition to being a barber, he held other part-time jobs. For a short period, one of his sons, Brett Williams, helped at the barbershop as well.
Most of his customers have promoted Gene’s Barber Shop via word-of-mouth . One of his challenges was learning how to deal with the various hairstyle changes through the decades.
“I enjoy the people and listening to their stories,” Williams said. “You have to adapt with the times.”
He also said his customers range from as young as toddlers up through 92-year-olds.
Customer Jim Marquardt, of Wickliffe, said he has enjoyed going to Williams since 1991 because of his customer service and efficiency.
“He’s reasonable, accommodating and he’ll ask how you are doing,” Marquardt said.
Prior to Marquardt’s appointment, another customer, Claridon Township resident Al McQuistion, said he has been a customer for one-and-a-half years, but “wished he had been coming to the barbershop longer.”
Williams said he had no big plans after he retired. Rather, he will work around the house and make repairs. He will also enjoy his other hobbies, which include hunting, fishing and riding his motorcycle.
What’s the secret to his success?
Consistency.
“You have to be constant and be on time every day,” he said. “And you have to give them the haircut they want.”
As a wintry, 40-mile-per-hour wind blew outside, he emphasized that point.
“You have to show up and do your customers proud,” he said. “Even in whiteouts like today.”
