Recognizing our own: Irving Brothers receive Lifetime Achievement Awards

Robert Irving, Sr. and Roland Irving, Sr. of the Southern University Barbershop were presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for their outstanding service to Southern University. The ceremony took place in the Museum of Art on Thursday, February 24, in front of family, friends and supporters of the duo. Southern University Alum, Willie McCorkle III, along first year Law Student, Fatima Mann and others teamed up to make this event possible.
“I wanted the event to small and memorable for our inductees. We did not have one last year so I wanted to make sure we recognized some this year,” said Mann
Mann began the ceremony with a brief greeting and short poem.
Song selections were done by Southern University students. One, Nikosha Sholes, a freshman Mass Communication major of Baton Rouge expressed that it was her pleasure to honor the Irving brothers in song.
“I love coming out and supporting the black men in our community. To see Pop and Pop- pop, as I call them, get honored makes me feel good. I go to the barbershop not for a haircut, but because they make me laugh, even on my worse days.”
Freshman Accounting major, Adam Rogers of Memphis, Tennessee also had some positive comments to say about the inductees.
“I am a regular at the Southern University barbershop. I always tell people that I would not let anyone else cut my hair unless it was one of the brothers or Willie.”
Employee along the side of the brothers, McCorkle, serenaded the audience with a Louis Armstrong favorite on his trumpet, playing “What a Wonderful World”. McCorkle has worked with the brothers for two years now and says he is thankful that the brothers were able to be honored on this occasion.
“It was a great celebration of lifetime achievement and we are thankful for what they have done for the campus of Southern University, the community, the state and the country. Fifty-two years, that is so many generations with some spreaded across the country that come back to our campus and the first place they stop is the Southern University Barbershop. I am thankful for them taking me in,” said McCorkle.
According to Robert Irving Sr, the Irving brothers, along with the late Donald Irving, have been cutting hair for Southern University for over fifty years. The duo said they have seen and experienced much over the years, however, they accomplished to keep the business booming.
“I’ve been here since 1964. It’s a great job and I love what I do. I have watched my kids start and graduate here at the University. I have been able to work, enjoy and put all three of my kids through school right here at the Southern University Barbershop,” said Robert Irving Sr.
Roland Irving said, “I enjoy working here at Southern and it has been wonderful so far. I’ve gotten a chance to see so many students from so many cultures come in and out of the barbershop and I enjoyed passing and sharing our legacy.”