One page at a time: Abilene Barber incentivize his love for books

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Dr. Suess famously said, “The more you read, the more you know, the more you know, oh the places you’ll go.” This is the motto of an Abilene man who inspires others to find their love of literacy.

Paxton Grayer was an Abilene legend on the football field with the Abilene High Eagles and McMurry Warhawks. Throughout his time in school, he says he was not a star student, but he always passed his classes until he went to one college course.

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“In college, I met a professor, Dr. Wallace, and he’s still at McMurry.  But again, he was my first ‘F’.  And it was for a good reason because I didn’t do the work. I thought because I was some big-time running back, that he would, you know, pass me, per se,” Grayer said.

Through a tough talk with his professor and working through his struggle with reading he realized the problem, his mindset.

“In that time frame, I really struggle with reading.  After taking developmental classes, I soon learned that I wasn’t any of those things; I was labeling myself. I simply didn’t read enough and didn’t apply myself,” Grayer explained.

One page led to another, and Grayer fell in love with stories tethered by the spine of a book. Now, he is working as an educator and barber. He wants to inspire that passion in other students who are just like him.

“I fell more in love with reading than playing football.  And so that’s what inspired me to become an educator, and I just fell in love with knowledge,” Grayer said. “I taught English for going on four years now, and I’ve learned with the students that do struggle with reading that they don’t have access to books at home and in or outside of school.”

At Heart and Soul Salon, Grayer says he works to make all of his customers look and feel good, and his students feel inspired. Now, he is combining both with a new deal lowering or completely cutting the price of a haircut, all by reading.

“You read one book; you get $5 off the haircut. You read three books; you get $10 off the haircut.  And if you read five books, you get a free haircut.”

The deal is not only for students but also open to all ages. Grayer says he just wants people to pick up a book, get inspired for change, and be hungry for knowledge.

“When we read the right stories, they increase our knowledge and lower our ignorance. And I think that, altogether, it makes a brighter world. We build unity.  We all come together, and one book has the power to do that, as we all know,” Grayer said.

Grayer has been an educator for four years and a barber for five, he hopes to inspire more of the future generation as a principal.