Four bright, red chairs are lined up in the Student Center's barber shop, yet only one is in use.
For the past 38 years, Benny Benefiel has cut hair at the Student Center. As many as two other barbers have helped during Benefiel's 38 years, but for the past four years, it's been only Benefiel.
"It's just been a good place to work," Benefiel said.
"It's a chance to meet new people," he said. "And anymore, people from around the world."
Benefiel speaks softly and gently as he chats with his customers. He comments about the upcoming football game and questions his customers about the summer and the beginning of classes.
"There's a lot of talk about sports," he said.
Benefiel also talks to his customers about fishing, one of his favorite pastimes.
Benefiel grew up outside Muncie. One of his friends had decided to attend barber school, and Benefiel also became interested.
"The next thing I knew, I was visiting barber schools, and I signed up for one," he said.
"I went to barber school two days after I graduated from high school," he said. "So, it's pretty much all I've done."
Benefiel said his craft has not changed. He uses the same tools and the same techniques. Still, prices have changed. When he first started he charged only $1.50. Since then, the price has gone up to $11.
"As for the students," he said. "They haven't really changed, just their hair."
Benefiel remembers when long hair for guys was in style.
"That was a tough time," he said with a laugh.
Now Benefiel sees more of the styles from when he first began.
Although Benefiel has cut the hair of an endless number of students and staff members, one customer stands out in his memory: actor, comedian and artist Red Skelton.
"Red Skelton came to Ball State to do a show, and he came in to get his hair cut," he said. "That's a highlight."
As for someone leaving Benefiel's chair with a haircut they did not like, no one has spoken up, he said.
"I'm sure they have," he said. "But that's one of those things you try not to do."
Senior John White has relied on Benefiel to cut his hair for the past two years, and he said he won't get his hair cut anywhere else.
If White is going to be out of town, he makes sure he pays a visit to Benefiel before he leaves so he doesn't have to go elsewhere.
"It's perfect every single time," he said. "And the shaving cream, oh yeah."
Benefiel uses shaving cream to shave around the ears and neck after the haircut.
"I'm here every 10 days to two weeks," White said.
Senior Brandon Crowder has periodically visited Benefiel for three years.
"I know exactly what it will look like when I'm done," he said.
Crowder said he is more particular about his hair because he used to be in the military.
"He is an excellent barber," he said. "I definitely suggest his work to a lot of my friends."
Assistant Features Editor Candace Beaty at features@bsudailynews.com
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