The Black Father Of Fort Worth

A shine boy learns to cut hair and ends up an important leader in a major Texas cowtown.

- Norman Wayne Brown

A black kid with a shining smile suddenly appeared in Colorado City, Texas, in 1886, hoping to make two bits a pop as a bootblack for blacking a pair of boots.

Scripio “Zip” Means was nicknamed after his father, Zip, who had moved to Freestone County from Alabama with the family’s slave owner, Dr. J.S. Means. Once the boy reached Colorado City, though, he changed his first name to Harvey.

Harvey became the best rag popper in town. In 1886, the 18 year old was asked to move his bootblack stand to the barbershop in the St. James Hotel. One day three years later, when barber Gus Bertner was away, cowboys demanded Harvey cut their hair, so he gave in. Thus, began his 54-year career as a barber.