When Bill first started barbering, most barbers were men. It was stated in an article in the Peoria Journal Star that he remembered only one female barber in the 1930s.
    Bill used his barbering talent while serving in WWII while stationed in Burma serving as a radar operator. He returned to Chillicothe in 1945 and reopened his shop.
    Haircuts were 25 cents when he started barbering and $5 when he retired. His shop was located at 1051 N. 2nd Street which is now the Beer Garden at the American Legion. He operated his shop without a phone. No appointments were needed—walk-ins only. His whole career he stuck with old fashioned haircuts—no fancy cuts. His shop was one of the few where a customer could get a straight razor shave. Bill gave one to himself every day.
    His son, Bob, remembers six o’clock being closing time. They would come to the shop to pick up his dad and Bob would sweep up while Bill did his daily bookkeeping. As time changed, Bill put in a central vac system that hooked on to his clippers. This made cleanup much easier.
    In the mid 70s, Bill started cutting his granddaughter’s bangs. In 1980, he gave his grandson his first haircut. Those grandchildren have grown up, but they still talk about going to the barber shop on Saturdays to see Grandpa. Of course they remember getting pennies from Bill for the one cent bubble gum machine.
    Some of his customers will remember the horned mirror their hats hung on while they got a cut or the “Bald Is Beautiful” sign that hung on the wall.
    And of course, his customers were the source of news of what was happening in town.