PART ONE
Staff Writer For five decades, ROLAND TYLER has been a constant picture of what a “perfect Forney citizen” should be. He has worshipped, worked, served, socialized, and witnessed. I am proud to have known him and called him, FRIEND!
Getting a haircut from Roland was not just a haircut— it was a total experience. Paul, Marian, Don, William, Waylon, Weston: the Themers spent much time at HighStylers—reading the literature, listening to the “old-timers” telling truths and lies, hearing Roland tell jokes and stories and then laughing the loudest of anyone in the little “Rabbit Hut.”
Roland listened and tried to cut and style the hair as the customers asked, but he never quite got mine right as I always told him to make me look like Paul Newman or Brad Pitt!
I never tired of (1) watching him refuse to take the full price from a man who barely had any hair to cut (bald). They agreed upon half price! (2) telling customers in the chair, “just a minute, the wid-ow………. is getting out of her car, and I need to go out to help her.” (3) saying to a customer in nice clothes on the way to a meeting, “Here, take my umbrella, and bring it back whenever you can.” (4) Answering the phone and saying, “Yes, sir, I can work you in a few minutes before officially opening tomorrow morning.” (when he really had other pressing things to do then) (5) telling someone that, “I won’t be here much this week; I will be passing out ‘Gideon Bibles’ at the State Fair.” I could go on and on, so I will do so!
One summer, I needed a base coach for the “youth league baseball games” that my son played and I “headcoached.” I asked Roland if he could coach 3rd base, and he said, “I will be there for each game right after I close up here, and I will do the best I can.” The boys “loved” him!
I saw Mr. Tyler set such fine examples of what husbands should be, for two durations, as he twice had wives who were terminally ill and who received such loving attention from him.
I heard about and saw examples of his work for and with the Lions Club and how he helped so many less fortunate than he. He helped the Boy Scouts with summer camp trips. Again, I could go on and on! But let’s hear a few things others had to say. I hope I do not leave out anyone who told me “stuff.”
***I wanted to let you know (phone text) that this is Roland’s last week. He is retiring. He sold his proptheir erty to the City, and they are supposed to make a parking lot there. I think it would be a great article. Judy and he came to Forney about the same time as Cary and I did in the early 70s, and he has done my hair weekly ever since. Throughout the years, we have shared many good times. He was always dependable, worked well with us, and supported The Forney Messenger. The Highstylers and Roland will be greatly missed, as he was a wonderful asset to Forney and the business community. Roland is 81; he told me last Friday. ( Judy Griffin was the 1st Forneyite to alert me to this breaking news, but I will admit that Roland had shocked me with the same news that morning.)*** Shirlynn and I ( Charles and Shirlynn Beason) remember Roland being a faithful member of the “chain gang” at Forney Jackrabbit football games in the 1980s and maybe into the 1990s. Roland and I often encounter each other at the Forney Post Office, and he always asks a friendly, “How are you doing? How’s your family? Good to see you, sir!” Through the years, Shirlynn would go to Roland’s shop for an appointment with someone else, but he would always greet her with a friendly, “How are you ma’am?”
I ( Reverend Jerry and Helen Griffin) met Roland soon after he moved to Forney. Through the years, we have become good friends; he has been my barber for about thirty years. I always looked forward to going to Roland’s shop and visiting with him. He was always informed about what was happening in Forney and who was sick or in need, and was interested in people and kept up with their lives. I admire Roland because he was a part of so many good organizations in our community and still is not only a member, but also an active member, participating in their efforts to make this a better community in which to live. While he is active in so many good organizations, he does not let that keep him from being faithful to and active in the work of his Church. Unless he is speaking at a church for the Gideons, he is in his place at Church on Sunday mornings and is back on Wednesday evenings. Roland is always interested in my family and knows them all well. He is a man for whom his Community and his Church can be thankful. I am glad that ROLAND IS OUR FRIEND!
Mike Adams: Roland has cut/curled/colored hair for four generations of our family and has always been accommodating and considerate when schedules changed, kids dropped in, or age slowed the paces of long-time customers, and he has meticulously styled their hair for the last time when they passed away. The last few years when getting my hair cut, I included an extra tip for all those times my young sons dropped in, unbeknownst to me, to get a trim and freshen up the “stylish lines” in their hair. Conversation never lagged, and we solved many of the world’s problems—but mainly had a lot of laughs. I told him his “calling” to style hair had become a ministry, particularly to the ladies who depended upon him for proper appearances at Sunday Services! Besides his business, Roland has volunteered more of his time toward church/civic organizations than anyone else I know, and I have been here sixty-nine years. He is a farmer’s son, war veteran, businessman, college graduate, and “local treasure”— and I am fortunate to call him my FRIEND.
And let’s close this “Part One” with an anonymous review on the internet: I have known Roland for 50 years now. My mom was a model for Neiman Marcus, so she was very particular about who touched her hair. She turned me on to Roland and haircuts, and I trust him for my haircut needs!
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