Old-time Cut

Frank Abell gives Zach Trailor, 5, a haircut at Frank\'s Barber Shop in Lebanon. "I just love to cut little kids hair," Abell Says. "Turn him around and he grins, and you know he\'s happy whether the rest of them are or not."

William E. "Shooter" Mattingly and Howard "Cotton" Abell (no close relation to Frank) catch up at Frank's Barbershop Tuesday morning. The men stop in almost every morning to read the paper and chat with barber Frank Abell and anyone else who might stop in. Frank Abell once offered to return a favor Cotton had done for him by giving the man a free hair cut. "Hell no," Cotton Abell joked, "When I pay for 'em they look bad enough."

Frank Abell gives Frank Starks a haircut at Cedars of Lebanon nursing home. Abell spends Thursday mornings going to local nursing homes to give haircuts to the residents there.

James Foster Lawson, 90, gets a good laugh while getting a haircut from his longtime barber Frank Abell at the Spring View Hospital Nursing Home in Lebanon. Lawson had just moved to the nursing home the previous week. "I know he don't want to be out there," Abell said, "but that's the way it is." Abell goes by both nursing homes in town every Thursday to give haircuts to the residents there.

Abell works on a book of jumble word puzzles when business is slow. He has completed 489 puzzles in a book of 511. Abell is often alone in the store, but he says he will continue to keep regular hours as long as he is physically able. "I'm happier coming down here than sitting at home talking to myself or watching T.V.,'' Abell said. ''I'm not much on T.V.''

Frank Abell, 76, gets to work every day ot 7:30 and closes up around 4:30. "I think it's good to keep regular hours," Abell says, "To go to bed near the same time. I think it's good for you as you get older."