FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 27, 2009

ST. JOHN’S BARBER TO RETIRE AFTER 45 YEARS

Larry Roesslet to pass the scissors April 3

Larry Roesslet figures he has provided tens of thousands of haircuts in his 45 years of service at Appointment Barber Shop inside St. John’s Hospital. He still has his first appointment book from 1964 and even some of the same customers. His customers range from hospital patients, physicians and staff to politicians and ministers.

“I remember my first day well. The other barber was wearing a white jacket, so I bought a brown one. Dusty Rhodes, the barber who hired me, said ‘what did you do that for?’ I guess every generation goes through changes,” Roesslet says.

Rhodes was the original St. John’s barber who opened shop during the grand opening of St. John’s Hospital on Cherokee in 1952. Roesslet originally assisted him as a shoeshine boy when he was only 13 years old.  Later, Rhodes encouraged him to go to barber school – advice that launched a career. The barbershop is an independent business and Roesslet leases the 300-square-foot space and furnishings from St. John’s. It is the only shop he has ever worked at.

Appointment Barber Shop is named such because when it opened, barbershops took primarily walk-in business. Roesslet says it was a novelty to take appointments. The shop is located in a main thoroughfare on the first floor of St. John’s Hospital, just down the hall from the cafeteria. Roesslet takes both appointments and walk-in business and charges $13 for a cut and style. He doesn’t dye hair. He doesn’t offer shaving or additional services typically offered at barbershops, but he does make house calls, to patient rooms anyway. His service is simple and quick and about 25 people a day sit in his chair. Throughout the years, construction around him has led to dramatic changes, including the addition of the Patient Tower, which opened last Spring.

“I joke that I used to be on the ground floor and now I’m on the first floor, but I’ve never moved,” he says. “I’ve seen a lot of changes in this place.”

Roesslet handpicked his successor, 27-year-old Nathaniel Struble of Ozark. Struble has planned a few changes, including updating décor and adding Saturday hours. He says it is a fortunate break for him to get this opportunity.

“I’ve never really tired of coming to work here,” Roesslet says. I’ve had some wonderful customers and am going to miss the people.” The 64-year-old plans to travel, do more woodworking and some volunteering, maybe at the hospital. His father and mother both volunteered at St. John’s for more than 20 years.

He acknowledges that being a barber in a busy place like St. John’s has kept him “in the know” on a lot of Springfield happenings. Being a good listener is a job duty of a good barber. 

“It’s been a great place to work, there’s such good people at St. John’s. And they’re loyal. I’m used to talking to a different person every 20 minutes. I’m going to miss that.”

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Appointment Barber Shop is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesdays – Fridays. Larry and some of his customers are willing to talking to news media. For more information, contact St. John’s Media Relations at 417-820-2426 or cora.scott@mercy.net.