Wilson's hobby becomes his livelihood

Dan Wilson enjoys spending his days at Murray's Barber Shop in Harrisburg.

Most people get involved in a hobby to take their mind off their work. Wilson, on the other hand, makes a living from his hobby.....and he loves it.

Wilson, who bought the former Murray's Barber Shop across from the Poinsett County courthouse in Harrisburg in July, has had his hobby as his livelihood for nearly 20 years now.

"I was born in California and my dad was born in Arkansas," said Wilson. "I had a shoe repair shop in Clinton and in Fort Smith. Then, after 28 years, I got where I wasn't making any money. So I got to thinking about what else I could do. Then I thought about my two sisters who cut hair, and I said if they can do that so can I."

So Wilson went to Barber College in Fort Smith when he was 40 years old.

"I found out I loved it," Wilson continued. "I love to cut hair, I love to talk and while I'm at it, I'll put a little ministry in it."

Now 60, Wilson has barbered in a number of places over the past 20 years including Green Forest, Harrison and Branson, Mo.

"I tried putting a shop in Branson, but they had all these codes there," Wilson said. "I had to put in a handicapped bathroom and handicapped ramps and a bunch of other things and it was like they didn't want me to put a shop in there."

Since it seemed like Branson didn't need another barber, Wilson contacted the barber boards in the Arkansas and Missouri since he was licensed in both to find a place which needed his services. He found out there was an opening in Jonesboro.

"And that's how I ended up in this area," he said.

He cut hair there for five years and in Osceola for two years. Wilson then said he came to Harrisburg when Murray called him about taking over his shop.

Murray was semi-retired working only about two hours a day, two or three days a week. He decided he wanted to fully retire and, with the help of Harrisburg Mayor Buzzy Faulkner, contacted Wilson.

Some two months later, Wilson is already looking to expand his operation.

"If I can get up to 10 or 12 customers a day, I'm planning on buying this building," continued Wilson. When I do, I want to put a coffee house next door. And in the back I have plenty of room for a shoe repair shop."

Wilson said the reason he was thinking about putting in a coffee shop was that he already has some experience in that area.

"I also had a bakery business in Branson called The Daily Bread," he said. "I had 27 stops where I delivered bread or pies or whatever I had. I did that for a little while, then I gave that business to my brother."

He added that once he got his coffee shop going he was going to use it like a mission.

"If someone comes in and says they're hungry then I'll feed them," he said.

Wilson's benevolence extends beyond his proposed coffee shop to the barber shop as well. Recently he said he had a man come in who said he was looking for a job, but was awful 'scruffy.'

"So I told him to sit down and I gave him a haircut," continued the barber. "He said he would come back and pay me, but I haven't seen him yet."

He laughed when he said that, clearly not upset if the man never comes back to his shop.

"I not going to worry about it," he said. "(If I never get paid) it's something he'll have to answer for."

Wilson said he has been working since he was eight years old when he began shining shoes.

"In 1957 when I was eight I was clearing $50 every weekend," Wilson said.

Then by the time he was 11 he was repairing shoes and by 14 he was a "full-fledged shoemaker."

As far as other hobbies, Wilson said he likes to fish and hunt, but he doesn't like the cold weather when most hunting seasons are open. One thing he does do, however, is take deer or other meats and turn it into jerky.

But while Wilson may delve into other areas, he still is doing the one thing he loves.....barbering. He has his barbershop open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.