(Photo by Heather Ziegler) St. Clairsville barber Lee Horsfall gives longtime customer Phil Loweecy a haircut and some lively conversation. For more than 50 years, Horsfall has been doing what he enjoys – cutting hair.

Lee Horsfall has been standing behind a barber chair for more than 50 years, yet he said he’s really retired.


The 75-year-old barber, whose shop is in the heart of downtown St. Clairsville, said many people retire too early and then find they aren’t happy with their lives.


“I tell people I am retired because I think retirement is doing something you enjoy, and I enjoy what I do every day,” Horsfall explained.


The young-at-heart businessman said a lot of people retire and depend strictly on Social Security benefits.


“Barbers don’t make a lot of money so their Social Security benefits aren’t much. But I really do keep on working because I can and it’s what I like. I meet a lot of intelligent people here.”


Judging by the number of hats, photographs and various paraphernalia adorning his barbershop walls, Horsfall has made plenty of friends.


He said while he enjoys lively discussions  — whether about politics or sports — he lets his customers do most of the talking. Some stop by for a cup of coffee flavored with a heaping helping of friendly conversation.


“Sometimes a guy will come in and complain about the last haircut they got somewhere else. I tell them they should go back to that barber and give them a second chance.