Looking back, Oglesby said he treated them just like he would one of his regular customers.
“Neil Armstrong, he was a very quiet guy. He didn’t talk much. George Clooney, he was very small at the time. Maybe, two or three years old. Dan Patrick is from Mason. I cut his father’s hair and his brother’s hair. They were customers of ours,” he said.
For close to 56 years, Oglesby, a Mason native, has spent his entire career barbering in town. He has owned and operated Gary’s Barber Shop since 1966. Although he recently retired in January at 74 years old, he has sold the barber shop — to someone else ironically named Gary — so the business will continue to be called Gary’s Barber Shop.
The new owner, Gary Baker, who has worked alongside Oglesby at the shop for more than a decade, will continue to offer customers the same old-time barber shop experience. Another longtime barber, Dennis Bogan, has worked at the shop with Oglesby since 1967. Bogan will continue to work at the shop with Baker.
“The legacy I hope to pass on, is that I hope they treat people the way I treated them. That’s the only way. It’s the key to success in any business. You have to treat people like you want to be treated,” Oglesby said.
“I’ve been barbering for 55 years and 8 months. My brother-in-law Bobby Carter and I bought the current barber shop in 1966. He and I were partners for 35 years. Then, he retired in 2001, and I had the barbershop by myself until January 1. I had someone that wanted to buy the shop, and I thought it was time,” he said.
Reflecting back on a successful career, Oglesby talked the most about his regular customers.
“I have had a lot of regulars and I really want to thank them. There are good people in Mason and they have supported me throughout the years. That’s one of the best things. You have to treat people the way you want to be treated, and that was my success,” Oglesby said.
Surviving much of the competition, Gary’s Barber Shop is recognized as the oldest barber shop in Mason. The original cash register still sits inside the shop. With only about 10 barbers in its history, lasting relationships have kept Gary’s Barber Shop running strong.
As life-long friends, Oglesby and Bogan went to high school and barber college together. Oglesby also married Bogan’s sister, Peggy, so they are brother-in-laws as well. They graduated from Moeller Barber College in Cincinnati.
“I’ve also known Gary (Baker) for years. I probably gave him his first haircut. He worked for the telephone company for 30 years. Then, he retired and went to barber college. He also has three daughters that are barbers. He worked for me for almost 10 years, and he decided he wanted to buy the business,” Oglesby said.
The shop largely draws its customer base from Mason, West Chester, Kings Mills and Lebanon.
“When I started as a barber in 1959, it was $1.50 for a haircut, he said, now it is $14,” Oglesby said. “Early on, eight out of 10 haircuts were flat tops. The hairstyles have changed, especially since The Beatles became popular. That changed hairstyles tremendously with the longer styles.”
To add to the camaraderie at the shop, Baker said none of the customers confuse the two Garys because they all go by nicknames. Oglesby is known as “Worm,” Baker is called “Bake” and Bogan goes by “Boag.”
“It’s been great. Worm, (Oglesby) is one of the best men you’ll ever meet in this world,” Baker said. “He’s always upbeat. We come in here every day and do a good job, provide good services and you have fun every day you come to work. I just hope he comes in and continues to cut hair a couple of times a week. When you come in here, you have to leave the barber shop being happy, and get a good haircut.”
Although he’s only been retired for a short time, Oglesby still stops in at the shop two to three times a week.
“I know I am going to miss the people. I never met a stranger in my life, and that’s what I’m going to miss. There aren’t a lot of old-time barber shops left, they are getting to be a thing of the past,” Oglesby said.
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