GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — A man has been cutting the hair of thousands of people in Greensboro for more than six decades.
Before James Robert Butler opened Butler’s Barbershop, his professional journey began in 1960 on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University when he cut hair in the basement of Cooper Hall.
“Every Wednesday … we would cut hair from eight to 8 on 8,” Butler said.
After cutting hair on campus for a couple of years, he worked under Alexander Parker, another barber who mentored him, at a barber shop of Market Street and Benbow Road.
Parker and Butler then formed a partnership and opened a shop in Freeman Mill Square in 1970.
Then 17 years later, Butler opened up his own barber shop across the street, and he’s been cutting hair ever since.
“I’m 87,” Butler said. “When you do what you enjoy doing, you don’t even think about time. You don’t think about age. You just get up and go do it.”
Butler has endured a lot over the years.
“My health is good … I’ve had prostate surgery, and I’m survivor after 20 years. My wife died about 30 years ago,” Butler said.