There are many prolific members of the Wooster business community but I'd venture to say that few have remained the focus of the public eye as consistently as Dick Stull, owner of Stull's Hair Clinic. From real estate sales to home renovations and hair replacement, Dick has proven to be a tireless worker who keeps the well-being of the local community at the top of his agenda.

I originally set out to write a story about Stull's Hair Clinic but the more I learned of this busy man, the more I realized that he's much more than a barber. From his younger days on the farm, he did indeed learn the craft of barbering and proceeded to become the proprietor of grooming establishments in a variety of Wooster locations. With an easy going manner and a gift for conversation, Dick began visiting with local residents while removing unwanted hair from their heads at his original location on West Liberty Street until the shop was gutted by fire in 1987. Moving a short piece down the street, he again hung out his barber pole and proceeded to quip and clip again. If you'll recall, it was at this new shop where the occupants were suddenly startled one morning by a shotgun blast taking out three of Dick's front windows. As they later discovered, a youngster waiting in a car for his grandfather to get a haircut began playing with his grandfather's antique 12-gauge which suddenly discharged. This early morning excitement may have convinced me to hang up my shears and head straight back to the tranquility of the farm, but Dick had the windows repaired and went back to cutting hair with a new story to tell those who weren't there that day.

As his popularity and customer list grew, Dick began to look for larger accommodations and discovered the unloved and abandoned former Baltimore & Ohio Freight Station down by the fairgrounds. After considerable effort to locate the owners and persuading them to sell the station to him, he restored the facility while maintaining its original look and decor, and took up residence there in 1992. Stull's Hair Clinic now offers the services of several barbers and beauticians in addition to specializing in custom hair pieces and hair replacement amidst the collection of antiques that decorate the shop. When we were all younger, Dick removed our hair and now that age has taken its toll on more than a few local heads, he's helping us put it all back on!

In his off-hours, Dick has selflessly devoted considerable amount of time and energy as a member of the Wayne County Fair Board since the early 1970s and with in excess of twenty years of service, is now a Director Emeritus. Dick is one of the founders of the Wayne County Home & Garden Show and, as a past Director of the Chamber of Commerce, he dedicated himself to promoting numerous community events for the betterment of the greater Wayne County area.

Never one to rest on his laurels, he's come to the rescue of the Wayne County All Stars Invitational Tournament and quite a few local scholars. The tournament had previously raised money to support the county's all star softball team and when the team disbanded, Dick's telephone began to ring. Teams from as far away as Michigan and Pennsylvania called to ask if there was any way to keep the tournament going. With civic pride in his blood, Dick has continued to keep the game alive and currently directs the tournament and the Wayne County All Stars Invitational Tournament Scholarship Fund which is the prime recipient of funding produced by the games. This fund has provided scholarship funding yearly to local girls since 1990 and has paid out more than $30,000 in scholarships so far.

You know that a man who stays as busy as Dick does has to have another pet project in the works. Through his own personal donations and those of other members of the local business community, Dick is working to build the scholarship fund to a level that would enable it continue as an endowment even if the tournaments would someday end.

A modest man, Dick is quick to admit that without the help of his present and former co-workers Nancy Flinner, Terry Holcomb, Chris Boreman, John Miskimen, and Al Dewitt, none of these achievements could have been possible.

If I were familiar with Dick's sense of humor, I'd be tempted to end this story by saying, "Other than that, he just lays around." The truth of the matter, though, is that the Wooster and Wayne County communities have truly been blessed by Dick Stull's presence as evidenced by the many, many lives he's touched. Make it a point to attend the 20th Annual Invitational Tournament this year and to stop by Stull's Hair Clinic for a bit of a spruce-up and to see the remodeled station. While you're there, don't forget to tell Dick that The Advocate sent you!

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