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DRAPER — A Utah barber is putting down the scissors after six decades in Draper. Ninety-two-year-old Rex Rogers opened Rex's Barber Shop on Fort Street back in 1957.
It all started when Rogers was in the Navy in 1943. He was waiting in line to get his hair cut one day when the barber explained it would be a while, since there were only two stylists on shift.
"He says, 'I wish I could find someone to cut hair,' and 'I said how about me Schneider?' and he said, 'Can you cut hair, Rogers?' I said 'No,' and he dropped his tools and said, 'come with me,'" Rogers said.
The rest is history. When he came home, he went to barber school, worked for a couple of years and then looked to open a business of his own. He got his shot in the late 1950s.
"My wife says, 'Honey, I got you a barbershop,' and I said 'Where is that?' She said, 'Downtown Draper,'" Rogers said.
He took it and over the year has seen hundreds of clients. He attributes his success to word of mouth.
"I'll give them a good shave or a good haircut, and they would tell their friends to come to me and it was great," Rogers said.
One referral was none other than Colonel Sanders.
"I shaved him, trimmed his beard, cut his hair, and he wouldn't let anybody else do it," Rogers said.
Saying goodbye Wednesday night was not only bittersweet for Rogers, but also his customers. Leslie McClure was his very last client.
"A lot of folks will really feel a loss," McClure said.
Rogers reluctantly retired to focus on his health. Looking back at his time behind the chair, he admits he has no regrets.
"If you live your life by the clock you're losing time."
