Smiley Walters had no second thoughts about his decision to donate a ponytail he’d cultivated the past two years to Locks of Love.
Thursday afternoon Allison Henkle, a stylist at Town Square Tannery and Salon, sheared Walters, so his hair may be used in construction of a wig.
“It’s something I wanted to do to help someone else,” said Walters, 65.
Walters is a giver by nature. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force, including a tour of security duty in Vietnam while war raged.
A diamond earring he wears may be a social statement, but his ponytail, hanging well over his collar, was done to benefit someone else.
Nowadays, with retirement giving him the latitude, Walters spends his days visiting with friends, including daily breakfast at McDonalds.
He enjoys riding a motorcycle, but usually goes about town in his truck, the one with a license plate bearing “Smiley” on the front. He picked up the nickname in high school for his easy-going nature, which hasn’t changed through the years.
LOCKS OF LOVE was a for-profit retailer until it attained charity status in December 2007.
Hair donated is made into wigs. If there is a problem, such as the specimen being too short or having too much gray — Walters’ may not pass those tests — it is sold to a commercial company, with proceeds benefiting Locks and Love and its wig-making projects.
Wigs find their ways to victims of cancer, when they lose hair because of treatments, as well as those who have suffered severe burns or alopecia, a medical condition that causes hair loss.
Walters has no idea who may benefit from his donation. It doesn’t matter.
“I’m just happy I can help someone,” Walters said, with an ear-to-ear smile.
