Stanley Sutton Story 10 April 27, 2011 Words: 1,647 Gallagher-Iba Arena isnt the only place in Stillwater

that has memorabilia of OSU basketball, football and wrestling legends on display. On the corner of University and Knoblock sits The Varsity, a small barbershop wedged between a clothing store and a campus ministry building. Open four days a week, The Varsity offers $10 haircuts, but customers can listen to stories about former Cowboys of the past for free. Richard Danel owns and operates the 53year-old barbershop and has cut hair for 63 years. Danel was 13 when his dad became his first customer, giving birth to a dream of becoming a barber. Although he went to college to study about agriculture, the dream never wavered. I graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1954 with a double major in agricultural education and animal science, Danel said. As you can see, that has nothing to do with haircutting. Well, I received my haircutting license three years earlier in Tulsa but came to Stillwater because of school. Before I graduated, I knew I wanted to be a barber and open a place of my own. As a matter of fact, I was cutting hair while in college, but only for friends and family. When I finished school, I got a few haircutting jobs around town and three years later Harvey Fix, a friend of mine, and I opened The Varsity. Sometimes, its hard to believe this little place has been around for so long. The Varsity is a hit among OSU coaches and players since its opening Oct. 7, 1957. OSU athletic greats such as Eddie Sutton, Henry Iba, Bryant Reeves and Walt

Garrison are some of the famous Cowboys who have visited Danel to get a trim. Athletes and coaches arent the only ones to walk through The Varsitys wooden door; people from across the state have made trips to Stillwater to get a haircut and to share stories with the one they call Whisperin Richard. I get all types of customers, Danel said. Students, coaches, players, professors, farmers and little kids who hate getting haircuts. Some come from places like Tulsa and Oklahoma City. In an age where new barbershops go for a modern look, The Varsity opts to keep its historical feel. The smiles (and smirks) of OSU sports heroes greet customers who step inside the barbershop, smiles that are captured by old photographs that rest comfortably on the buildings brown walls; an inch separating each frame. Customers are invited to sit on one of two black benches that are perched against a wall while they wait for their chance to sit in a barber chair that has seen more use than any seat down the road at Boone Pickens Stadium. In between the benches rests a mound of magazines for customers to read, some dating to October and November. Garrison, a former OSU and Dallas Cowboy running back, was one customer who took magazines home without getting a haircut, Danel said. Sometimes Walt would come in, talk for a little bit and leave with one of my magazines, Danel said. Not too many people come in and leave without getting a haircut, let alone come in and leave with some of my reading material. The benches face two mirrors and three barber chairs, the center chair being reserved for customers. A look to the left from one of the benches seats will yield a

view of a wooden shelf, its surfaces being the resting place of 10 basketballs featuring the signatures of Sutton and former Cowboy and Cowgirl basketball players; no ink smears or ball deflation to be found. One basketball commemorates the Pokes run to the 2004 Final Four in San Antonio. This ball sits above the others and is sealed in a glass case; the Final Four logo prominently shown in its center and surrounded by signatures from Joey Graham, John Lucas III and more. While Danel is busy cutting hair or conversing with customers, figurines of Pistol Pete, placed on the top of the shelf, keep an eye on the white and brown basketballs that have been branded with the OSU logo and tattooed by dozens of signatures; each Pete stands with a pistol at the ready in case unwanted visitors come too close. Sutton and Danel have a close relationship. Danel has cut Suttons hair since Sutton was a student at OSU. Eddie is a familiar face around here, Danel said. Ive cut a lot of hair, but he is one person who has come to the ol barbershop decade after decade. Along with showering Danel with autographed balls and photographs, Sutton gave the barbershop one of its larger display items: a piece of Gallagher-Iba Arenas historic white oak floor that is tagged with Suttons autograph. OSU gave it to coach the night they named the court after him, Danel said. Eddie went on to give it to me. A look above the benches shows a row of pictures featuring OSU football and basketball coaches of the past. Next to an autographed photo of Sutton rests a photo of Jim Stanley, a former Cowboys football coach. Stanley, an assistant coach at OSU

from 1963 to 1968 before returning to Stillwater to take the coaching vacancy in 1973, is credited with giving Danel his nickname after sharing phone conversations, talks where Danel kept a quiet voice because he says its rude to talk on a phone in a way that everyone in the barbershop can hear the conversation. The nickname Whisperin Richard caught on with customers and has stuck with Danel. Jim would call and ask how many customers were waiting for a haircut, Danel said. I would tell him when we were and werent busy so he can come by for a trim. Jim started this whispering bit because he told me I was whispering when we were on the phone. Before making his way over, he would tell other coaches that he was going to go see Whisperin. Well, the name caught on when his players were asking where they could get a haircut. Jim would say, Go to Whisperins. Thats when the nickname became official. Like Sutton, Stanley left Danel with a decorative piece for the barbershop, a piece that stands on the windowsill next to the buildings entrance. A wooden plank engraved with Whisperin Richards was created by the Sigma Nu fraternity and given to Stanley after he saw the fraternity using it as part of its mock barbershop, Danel said. That wasnt the only object the fraternity gave away. Outside of the barbershop is a red and white barber pole that the fraternity used on its mock barbershop. Today, the pole has become a symbol, identifying The Varsity as a place to get a haircut. If that werent enough to grab the publics attention, a black canopy shades the sidewalk outside the front door with the words Varsity Barber Shop printed in white gothic text.

When its time to sit in the big chair to get a haircut, Danel is quick to get a conversation going with those who are shy. Topics range from the unpredictable Oklahoma weather to stories about some of Danels famous customers or his travels around the Midwest. Religion and politics are off-limits because the barbershop isnt a place for arguments, Danel said. Graham Terrell is a customer who visits The Varsity twice a month, usually showing up minutes after the 7:30 a.m. opening time so he can get a quick fix before heading to work. I heard about Whisperin Richard two years ago, Terrell said. I got tired of paying $15 for a haircut, so I came to The Varsity. Turns out that was one of the best decisions of my life. Its refreshing to come in and talk about whats going on in Stillwater with Richard. Plus he does great work with those clippers of his. Its great because I come in and he already knows how I want my hair done. Don Hutchinson, 78, is another popular face at The Varsity. Hutchinson, like Sutton, has been a customer for more than 50 years. One thing separates Hutchinson from the Cowboy basketball icon. I have my own chair here, Hutchinson said. Sometimes Ill come in to chat with Richard. I like to sit in this chair, pull out a newspaper and just talk. Hes become one of my best friends. Trenton Meyers, a UPS truck driver, is always on the move, but when its time for a trim, he finds ways to take time out of his day to swing by The Varsity.

I drive all over the place so sometimes its hard to make a visit, Meyers said. I usually come in close to closing because thats when there arent many customers. Sometimes I ask if my arrival is a nuisance. No sir it is not, Danel says, giving Walton a nudge on the arm. Conversations with customers are a reason Danel has been a barber for this long, said his wife, Dot. He loves his job and loves his customers, no matter the age, Dot Danel said. If you love your job, why should you quit? The barbershop is a big part of his life. Not only has the barbershop become a big part of Danels life, it has become part of Dots, as well. Its quiet at home when hes at work, Dot Danel said. But he finds ways to spend time with the family, whether its with me or family in Oklahoma and other states. Im just happy that he is doing something that he loves. When it comes to attracting customers in todays society, businesses place ads on TV, newsprint and the Internet. Danel doesnt need to. Word-of-mouth, friendly prices and a unique story telling ability has and will continue to bring in Oklahomans until Whisperin Richard decides to whisper into retirement, which doesnt appear to be anytime soon.