Jimmy Fontenot said his nearly 60-year career as a barber put him in touch with people from all walks of life.

“From politicians to doctors, you name it, I met them,” he said.

A working barber in Lake Charles since the late 1960s, Fontenot officially retired last Friday. He opened The Matador Barbershop on Prien Lake Road in the early 1970s and sold it after 20 years. He then opened Jimmy’s Barber Shop on West McNeese Street in the early 1990s.

Born and raised in Ville Platte, Fontenot attended barber school in Beaumont in 1963. He said he followed in the footsteps of a friend from Ville Platte who also had just started in barber school and enjoyed it.

After finishing barber school, Fontenot spent four years working at a barbershop in Orange, Texas. He moved to Lake Charles in 1968 and worked for Rodrigue’s Barbershop, located near Kirkman and 12th streets. Four years later, he opened The Matador.

Before opening The Matador, Fontenot got involved in the world of competitive hair styling. He won state awards in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Arkansas. He said a male model would travel with him to different events, where he would compete against 30 to 40 other barbers. A panel of judges would evaluate the haircuts and the styles. Fontenot won dozens of awards over a four-year period.

“It was a heck of a ride,” he said.

Fontenot opened Jimmy’s Barbershop in 1992, but Hurricane Laura’s destructive landfall in August 2020 destroyed the original location. It has since moved to East McNeese Street.

Cutting hair is something Fontenot said he never grew tired of doing.

“It’s very enjoyable and entertaining,” he said. “I made a lot of friends cutting hair. I don’t want to say it’s easy, because it’s not. However, you can work a long time.”

Fontenot said he is retiring while he is still in good health.

“Most barbers work until they can’t go anymore,” he said. “I want to spend time with my family, travel a little bit and go fishing.”

Fontenot had a passion for collecting classic cars. Over the last 11 years, he collected five cars, all of which have since been sold. The one that got the most attention was a 1946 Chevrolet pickup truck that he purchased from one of his customers at the barbershop. Roland Corbello, owner of RC’s Custom Paint and Body in Lake Charles and a customer of Fontenot’s, helped in restoring the truck.

“I won 94 awards with it,” Fontenot said.

Fontenot also has a love for McNeese State University. He was a former president of the Cowboy Club.

Despite being retired, Fontenot said he may continue to cut hair at home. Customers who need to reach him can call 304-1337.