PARIS, Ky. — 91-year-old barber Jerome Harney has been cutting hair for 70 years. He is a well-known member of the community who also writes columns for the local paper.
Harney joined the Marines when he was 18 and was deployed to Korea for the Korean War in 1951. During his year of deployment, he would cut his fellow soldiers’ hair.
“Some of the guys when they got ready to come home, they wanted their hair to grow out where they could comb it and part it,” said Harney. “Well I got aboard a little DE ship up there in the harbor in Wonsan and I got a comb and some shears, you know scissors, so I kept everybody’s hair cut real nice. I was just a natural born barber.”
Harney’s father was also a barber and had a shop in downtown Paris, which Harney started cutting hair at a few years after he returned from Korea.
Harney went on to open his own barbershop nearby and has been working there for about 65 years. He has several photos and artifacts in what he considers his own little museum.
Harney cuts some of his family members’ hair, including his great-grandson who is pictured above. (Spectrum News 1/Geraldine Torrellas)
“Over the years, you build up quite a lot of confidence with your clientele and of course, you know, you don’t never, ever want to betray the other man’s confidence if he’s told you something,” said Harney. “You know, it doesn’t go out of this little room. It stays right in here.”
Harney has explored several interests along the way, like raising dogs to participate in swim races. He also enjoys reading and writing. Harney writes columns for the Bourbon County Citizen.
Like everyone else, there have been ups and downs in Harney’s life, but he’s grateful for the ride.
“It’s a privilege, you know, to live to be my age and still be functional,” said Harney. “You know, I’m mentally O.K. I’ve got a bad lower back, but I’m able to come and work, you know, every day.”
Harney has carried on certain traditions like wearing a dress shirt and tie to work every day. He enjoys telling stories of his life, reciting the history of his hometown, and imparting wisdom to those he comes across.