A cut above – University Hall of Fame awaits barbers

The Southern University Hall of Fame will induct SU’s most notable barbers, Robert Irvin Sr. and Roland Irvin Jr. Friday for their many years of service to faculty, students and staff.
Nearly 50 years of service to the university, the once trio has cut the hair of many legends that has come through SU.
Robert Irvin Sr. is the oldest of the brothers, and he has cut hair at SU for more than 50 years and said that he is a Southernite all the way.
“Coming here as a young man 18-19 years old everything that I have accomplished over the years is because of Southern University,” Robert Irvin said.
Roland Irvin Jr. has cut hair on SU’s campus for more than 40 years, and with all of the experience, comes all of the stories.
“People like to come to our barber shop because they know they get genuine information; however, blunt, it is because they get the truth and they appreciate that,” Roland Irvin Jr. said.
The Irvin brothers have cut the hairs of Ace Mumford, Bob “Butterbean” Love, Mel Blount, Avery Johnson, and countless other SU legends.
The Irvin brothers have witnessed many generations of families that have come in and gone through Southern.
Between the three, there is over 130 years of combined hair cutting that has been going on in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union.  Their brother Donald passed away earlier this year.
Charlie Granger chairman of the SU Hall of Fame came to Robert and Roland and asked Robert Irvin Sr. and Roland Irvin Jr. how long have they been there and what athlete’s hair have they cut.
As Robert Irvin Sr. began to name a few of the now legends, Granger stopped Robert Irvin Sr. in mid sentence realizing that the Irvin brothers should be recommended for the SU Hall of Fame.
“It made me feel good to know that bringing them in as legends was a really beautiful thing,” Granger said.
Granger said it amazed him to see the interaction the brothers had with their clients and he knew by just sitting in their barbershop that he had to get them in the hall of fame.
A week later Granger called Robert Irvin Sr. and said that the brothers were voted in unanimously and for Robert Irvin Sr. and Roland Irvin Jr. what was once a possibility is now their reality.
“I was kind of shocked and surprised,” Robert Irvin said.  “I never envisioned being inducted into the hall of fame.”
When asked Robert and Roland why did they stay so long they simply said that they love what they do, and that love for what they do has gotten them into the Hall of Fame.
Friday not far from the same place they cut hair, the Irvin brothers will be enshrined into SU’s History.