“Family Barbers Legacy” is a part of the Capitol Avenue Bronze public art collection . . donated to the City of Cheyenne by private individuals, organizations or companies. For more information about the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project, visit Deselms Fine Art at https://deselmsfineart.com
In commemoration of Richard “Dick” Jacoby, Ernie Gonzales and Tom Gonzales for 150 years of combined service and dedication to their clients and the Cheyenne community.
Richard ”Dick” Jacoby
Upon completing his military service at the age of 21, with no clear career path in sight, he decided to attend barber school using the GI bill as a Korean War veteran. This proved to be a wise decision, as his career as a barber suited him perfectly. For 58 years, he operated a successful business at the same location, Dick’s Barber Shop, serving numerous loyal clients, some of whom spanned five generations. He enjoyed his work and the camaraderie that came with it until his retirement at the age of 83. Even after his retirement, the location continued to thrive as a successful barber business, testament to the foundation he had built.
Ernie Gonzales
Ernie Gonzales was born on June 1, 1937 and spent his formative years in Ledoux NM and Las Vegas NM. In the spring of 1953, he and his family moved to Cheyenne, where he eventually joined the United States Air Force.
In June of 1960, Ernie married Catherine Duran and together they had four children. He obtained his degree from a barber college in Denver and launched his career in 1963, working alongside his brother-in-law Dick Jacoby.
Ernie and Cathy were delighted to become grandparents in 1983 and enjoyed spending time with their family as well as traveling. Ernie took great pride in his membership at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, American Legion Post 6, and VFW Post 4343. Sadly, Ernie's life and career were cut short by cancer in 2003.
Tom Gonzales
Tom Gonzales was a barber who spent over half a century cutting hair in Cheyenne, Wyoming. After completing his training at Colorado Barber School in Denver, he became the first barber to work at the Officers Club at Warren Air Force Base. Later, he opened his own shop, Lincolnway Barber Shop, where he served clients from all walks of life.
Tom was known for his skills as a barber and his ability to connect with his clients. He served multiple generations of families who would come to him for their haircuts. He took pride in getting to know his clients and their families and was often included in family photos celebrating a child's first haircut. His shop was a gathering place where people could come and share stories, jokes, and news of the day.
Tom's first celebrity client was Wyoming’s Curt Gowdy who was an announcer for ABC’s Wide World of Sports and The Boston Red Sox.
His legacy lives on in the bronze statue created in his honor, which features his grandson Tommy sitting in the barber chair. His granddaughter Lily provided the first concept sketch for the project.
To learn more about the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project, visit this link . For more information about each artist, sponsoring a bronze, or becoming a donor/supporter at any level, please contact Harvey Deselms at Deselms Fine Art, located at 303 E. 17th Street Cheyenne. Email is deslemsart@aol.com or call at 307 432 0606
