Herb Green: Barber, historian and friend to all
The expansive family heritage through the marriage of
H.W. “Sour” Green and Rene Elizabeth Moore is massive, connecting their son, Herb, with relatives too numerous to mention. Being the little brother of two popular sisters at Bauxite High School, Joann and Sandy, Herb also made his own niche during his school days at Little School, Pine Haven Elementary and Bauxite High School.
At the mention of school, Herb chuckles through his full “Santa Claus” white beard as he shares one of his favorite stories of a first grade adventure with his cousin, Frank Green.
During recess while playing in the old vehicle shell that was a staple of
Little School
Elementary playground, the two young boys decided they had had enough of school that day. After experiencing the loss of their grandpa, Russ
Green, who had a heart attack and passed away a few weeks before the boys entered first grade, a trip to Grandma Green’s on nearby Pine Street seemed appropriate.
Not far into their journey, the boys were apprehended by a teacher and marched back to school to face the dreaded appearance before the principal, Mrs. Herring. When asked where they were headed, quickthinking Herb replied, “Frank had a heart attack and I was taking him to Grandma Green’s for treatment.”
Their story was not well received by the stern principal and severe consequences were imposed on the two youngsters. Herb and Frank were not allowed to be in the same homeroom again until they reached junior high school.
In addition to his involvement in Saline County politics, “Sour”
GINGER ENGLISH MINER MEMORIES
Green and his wife, Rene, were well known for their many business ventures in Bauxite, Benton and Bryant. The couple started with a neighborhood store in Pine Haven, across the street from the Bauxite Assembly of God Church. The Greens later opened a small grocery store nestled between the Midway Drive-in and the Benton Drive-in on the BentonBauxite Highway. In 1961, they opened the Sour Green Store in Bryant.
Herb graduated from
Bauxite High School in 1965 and shortly thereafter enrolled in Eaton Barber College in Little Rock. After completing studies at Eaton, he started his career as a barber in a small corner of the Sour Green Store. His customer base quickly became a success.
One of Herb’s first clients was Bob Davis, who remained a faithful and favorite customer for fifty years, until his death in 2019. A book could be written with all the tales those two discussed during their half-century friendship and special bond.
Following Mace Frey’s departure, Herb joined Ed Ricketts in the Bauxite Barber Shop. He fondly recalls many
of his Bauxite customers and the influential company officials from Alcoa and Reynolds he would not have known otherwise. Herb worked with Ricketts until the building was destroyed by fire in 1967.
The Vietnam conflict accelerated quickly at that same time and Herb’s barbering career was interrupted by a stint in the U.S. Navy. He spent 14 months on board the largest conventionally powered aircraft carrier, USS Constellation, which launched daily heavy bombings on the mainland of Vietnam. During his service, Herb visited Hawaii, Hong Kong and Japan, and also a brief stop in the Philippines where he tells stories of riding spirited horses.
When he returned to Saline County, Herb opened a barber shop in the Walton Building at the corner of South Street and South Market in Benton, next door to Doc and Jane Walton’s gift shop. After a short time, he opened at a second location in the Buffington Building.
There were many interesting customers who frequented Herb’s shops in Benton. Dr. Gifford Bell walked to his office on the second floor of the Buffington Building. During his
journey, he would make up a joke to share with Herb. Like clockwork each day, Dr, Bell stopped by the barber shop, told the corny joke he had concocted and shared a laugh with Herb before continuing to his office upstairs.
A. H. Byrd, formerly of Bauxite, also visited Herb’s shop each day. Because of his last name, Herb dubbed this gentleman “Admiral.” The Admiral always walked with his arms and hands gently crossed behind his back with head down looking at the surface below him. Upon entering the barber
shop, the Admiral would speak to Herb while checking the coin return slot in the pay phone, then continue to the soft drink machine where he checked the coin slot there. After a brief visit with Herb and downing a cold coke, the Admiral would say, “Is it time for me to go to the Bird roost?“With acknowledgement from Herb, the Admiral would depart for his usual route to search other vending slots on his morning journey.
Among others who worked nearby, Herb recalls familiar names such as Jay Bird Nutt at the Toggery, Mrs. Mary Parker at the Benton Credit Bureau, and Maxine Newcomb at her beauty salon. Many times, Albert Reinhardt from Lewis Lumber Company would seek a quiet, warm place in the Boiler Room of the Buffington Building where he rested and ate his lunch. Mose Robinson would often times join Reinhardt. Robinson, a giant of a man who wore overalls, was a Benton downtown icon.
Herb was always partial to two others, Arthur Holiman and Leo Herzfield, who frequently visited the shop in downtown Benton. Both gentlemen wore leg braces and walked with crutches. Herb considered them special friends.
Local barbers who once worked for Herb included N. N. Camp, L. R. Madison and Homer Black. When Black retired, Herb purchased his barber shop at 105 South Market in Benton.
When his father, Sour Green, became ill and could no longer work in his store, Herb moved back to Bryant to manage the store business. For the next ten years, Herb’s barber career was only part time. After the untimely death of his father, the store was sold.
Following the sale of the store, Herb was employed at Pine Crest Memorial Park, where once again he was serving the public. After two years, he returned to his career as a barber and worked in Frank Howard’s shop in Bryant.
When the opportunity arose in 1991, Herb opened his own business at 107 NE Second Street in Bryant and has been in this same location 29 years. His business is in a “Bauxite house” that was moved to its present location several years prior to Herb’s business occupancy.
The house has a façade covering of mortared stone.
Entering Herb’s Barber Shop is like visiting a small museum. Tastefully displayed are original oil paintings by local artists, Audrey Henthorne and Jo Eubanks. Henthorne’s artwork captures the unique beauty of the Saline County Courthouse. When Sour Green served as
Saline County Judge, the oil painting by Jo Eubanks of the historical Nickel Bill Ford hung in his office.
A large framed, delicate doily crocheted by Herb’s grandmother, Ada Bell James Green, decorates a section of the west wall. Pictures and drawings donated by several customers are numerous, each with an interesting background story. A favorite jacket depicting places Herb visited during his Vietnam era tour of duty aboard the USS Constellation is carefully hung with a small collection of caps. Other framed items are awards and special recognition honoring Herb.
Four years ago in memory of his parents, Herb established the H.W. “Sour” Green and Rene Elizabeth Green Memorial Scholarship. With no scholarship application form to complete or specific criteria for eligibility, Herb alone selects the scholarship recipient from among the many Saline County high school graduating seniors in need of financial assistance towards a college education.
On November 25, 2020, the first Green Memorial Scholarship recipient, Marshall Callicott, will graduate from Mississippi State University at Starkville with a BS Degree in Forestry, with concentration on environmental conservation, with a minor in geospatial and remote sensing technology. Herb plans to attend this special graduation ceremony.
After a tour of Herb’s Barber Shop and listening to the many fascinating stories he shares, “unique” is the only word to describe this tonsorial artist, his lifestyle, his career, and his place of business. The mold was broken after Herb Green was created.
These are Miner Memories and some of them are not so minor.