Hometown Hero: Alfred ‘Jack’ Repass

TAZEWELL, VA. (WVVA) - With a buzz and snip Alfred ‘Jack’ Repass was born into the barber business.

“I been here all my life. my father was raised in Burke’s Garden. My father was a barber here. He owned this building,” said Repass.

Step into the barbershop and it’s like stepping back in time; the building dating back to the late 1800s.

Repass’ uncle began working here in 1925 and his father followed in1928.

If those barber chairs could talk about the various clientele seen they’d have hundreds upon hundreds of stories to tell-- the tale just as interesting is the man behind the chair.

His career did not start with grooming top of heads rather it began at the bottom.

“I started shining shoes when I was around 9-years-old in 1944 me and my other brother [were] practicing with a straight razor--shaving--and he would teach us how to do the backhand stroke and the freehand stroke,” said Repass.

When Repass was just pass 11-years old he made his first shave.

“An old guy come in on a Friday afternoon, of course I never had a real razor on a man’s face, but this guy insisted that I would shave him,” said Repass.

“So my dad asked me, ‘can you shave him?’ I said I think I can.”

In 1953 the army man would use his talent for his fellow service men in Korea.

Decades later and Repass is still continuing the family legacy..

“I always like the people here. I was raised here and they always been good to me and I’ve always liked it.”

When it comes to his own legacy Repass said this:

“I hope they give me good marks down through the years. I ‘ve tried to live like you’re supposed to. I’ve tried to be good citizen.”

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