Barber shears five generations

CNJ staff photo: Andy DeLisle Blake Curtis, 15 months, sits on his grandfather Blake Curtis’ lap Wednesday for his first haircut at Ellison's Barbershop.

Blake Curtis held his 15-month-old grandson in his lap in the barber’s chair as Ellison Green snipped at the child’s hair. With the younger Blake’s first visit to the barbershop, Green has now cut five generations of the Curtis family’s hair.

The older Blake, 48, a Clovis business owner and former state legislator, starting going to Ellison’s Barbershop while he was in high school.

“Ellison had one of the prettiest girls in town, Maryann, cutting hair for him,” Blake remembered.

Green, 65, has developed special kinship with the Curtis family since Blake’s grandmother, Mimi, visited Ellison’s in the mid-70s.

“The whole family’s been special to me throughout the years,” Green said. “The Curtis family has contributed so much to the area.”

T.J. Curtis, the younger Blake’s dad, has patronized Green’s shop all his life.

“Between Ellison and Kyle (Gerzom), I don’t think I’ve ever had my hair cut by anyone else,” T.J. said.

Gerzom works for Green and is being trained to replace him.

Another of T.J.’s brothers, Andrew, drives from Lubbock to get his hair cut at Ellison’s, his mother, Terri said.

“When little Blake was born, Ellison told me it would be neat if he could snip Blake’s hair so he could cut five generations,” T.J. said.

“He’s been special to us and special to the community, so we wanted to give this opportunity to him.”

Blake Curtis, who owns Curtis and Curtis Seed and Supply with his brother, said Green cut all his siblings’ hair and all his children’s hair even though Ellison’s Barbershop has moved around since it opened in 1962.

“Ellison’s was the place to be,” Blake said. “You could get your haircut anywhere, but if you wanted to have a good time, you came here.”

As little Blake hopped off of his grandfather’s lap, his family and other customers wooed, which resulted in a large grin by the toddler.

“It was special for me whenever Blake asked me about doing this,” Green said. “I did it just this one time. That haircut was horrible, that’s why I didn’t charge for it.

“I can’t do it like I used to.”