Phil Huber, who grew up in Ocean City, still enjoys cutting hair now that he’s 85
SOMERS POINT — Philip Huber, owner of Phil’s Barbershop & Hair Replacement on Groveland Avenue, has been inducted into the National Barber Museum Hall of Fame.
The museum honors those who have distinguished themselves by an outstanding contribution to the furtherance of the barbering profession.
“It is our firm belief that a great number of persons have contributed to the advancement of the barber profession and should be recognized,” said Mike Ippoliti, curator and director. “In this way, we pay tribute to those persons who have endeavored to enhance the image of, and the working conditions for the barber.”
Huber was nominated by John Phillips, a former counselor, consultant and graduate school instructor who has been sitting in Huber’s chair for more than a half-century.
“I cannot imagine there being a more worthy candidate,” Phillips wrote in his nominating letter. “He has achieved one of the highest forms of admiration — the recognition by peers of his successes in performing a valuable service at the highest level.”
Phillips said many clients see Huber as a great barber but also as a valued friend.
“He is friendly, kind, caring, thoughtful, patient and extremely accommodating,” Phillips wrote. “He makes each person feel comfortable and special. He has a great sense of humor, is a very good listener and has the ability to establish an immediate rapport with anyone he meets.”
Huber grew up in Somers Point and Ocean City, where he attended St. Augustine School through eighth grade and Ocean City High School.
As a junior, Huber was on the school’s first state championship basketball team. He later earned scholarships for his exemplary play and planned to attend Wesley College, but his father said he was too immature and instead he joined the U.S. Army.
Following his service, he reached out to Dixie Howell, then coach at Wesley College, and learned he still had some scholarship funds left. He said he was three weeks away from freshman orientation when barber Ray Spurlock asked him if he wanted to become a barber.
“I thought, ‘Four years of college or nine months of barber school?,’” Huber said. “So that’s how I became a barber.”
He started working at Ray’s Barbershop on Bay Avenue in the 1960s and opened his place on Groveland Avenue in 1984, and has been there ever since.
Now 85, he still cuts hair five days a week.
“Thank God I’m still cutting hair, and I’m doing it because I enjoy the people and the camaraderie,” Huber said. “I like the people who come in, I like money — I don’t have to get into my investments – and it gives me a reason to get up in the morning.”
Huber graduated from CalMar Barber College in Philadelphia in 1960. He joined the trade group Associated Master Barbers and Beauticians of America and the Hair International Educators Team in 1978 and managed the New Jersey Hair Styling Team in 1979.
Huber was captain of the team in 1982, when he earned a Valuable Service Award. He went on to serve with Hair International, serving in multiple roles, through 1989 and was honored as Barber of the Year in 1990.
Huber also served as a judge in state and local competitions in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Nebraska and is a certified New Man Hair Replacement Dealer and started the New Jersey Barber/Stylist of the Year and Hall of Fame.
In addition to his profession, he is part of the community. When Huber got out of the Army, former Police Chief William Morrow asked him to take over running the basketball program, which had players from fourth grade to adults, and he did so for about six years.
He now is president of the Chief William H. Morrow Memorial Fund, which presents scholarships to students and financial support to various local groups and programs.
He is past president of the Somers Point Basketball Association, past vice president of the Somers Point All Sports Association and is a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
Councilman Sean McGuigan called Huber a “treasure” for what he adds to the city’s small-town charm.
“He is an absolute institution in Somers Point,” McGuigan said.
Huber and his former wife, Fran, have two children, Betsy and Michael.
Council President Kirk Gerety said he used to get his hair cut at Ray’s Barbershop, where Huber first worked.
“That’s where everyone in town got their haircuts,” Gerety said. “He probably cut my hair hundreds of times.”
Huber is invited to the induction ceremony during the 99th National Barber Board of America Conference on Sept. 23 in Charlotte, N.C.
“I’m so fortunate that I can still be healthy enough to do it,” Huber said.
Asked if he had any plans for retirement, Huber shared an anecdote:
“The local undertaker pulled up one day. There was nobody around. He says, ‘Phil, when are you going to retire?’ I said Bobby, you’re going to be the second person to know,” Huber said, noting grandson Chris Scheibein will soon be joining his shop and take over when he is gone.
“He sees I’m getting old, so he knows this is going to be a good gig,” Huber said.
– STORY and PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff