O.C. Panter — 1923-2004: Old-style barber ran downtown shop since 1958
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“He cut hair for a living, but it was the people who he enjoyed,” said his wife Evelyn Panter. “It was the talk and the social part which made it special for him.”
Panter first hung out his barber pole in 1958, conducting business in the downtown area of Spring Street. According to his wife, Panter went into the profession after cutting hair during his stint in the Army. What followed was a 45-year career which saw him serve several generations of families, cutting the hair of children, their fathers and grandfathers.
In addition to being an old-style barber, Mrs. Panter noted it was little known that her husband was a trained stylist with an ability to do about any kind of styling.
“He was a people person,” said son Roger Panter of Bone Cave. “It was the people he met which made it so enjoyable for so long.”
While he operated a barber shop, son Chris Panter said the need of a hair cut was not required to come to the shop.
“Some folks would come just to talk about ball and all kinds of things,” Chris Panter said, noting his father prided himself on being the least expensive barber in town. “I think he made a point of keeping his prices low.”
Panter’s family said he also made a point to keep the old-time barber shop atmosphere, offering services such as shaves. He even went to the point of using the same chair since the 1960s.
“He used the same chair for as long as I can remember,” Roger Panter said. “When it would get old, he’d have it re-covered.”
Son Jason Panter said a lot of his father’s character was humor as he was quick to throw out a quip or joke to keep the mood light at the barber shop. He also noted his father continued cutting hair up until the day before he was sent to the hospital a few weeks ago with a sudden onset of illness.