Sam Ross, 81, founded international hair-salon franchise Fantastic Sam's
Hoodoo
Hair salons founder known as champion of arts locally
By Mike Mueller
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Posted July 22, 2010 at midnight
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jul/22/ross-a-fantastic-02/
A shrewd businessman and benefactor of the arts, Sam Ross founded the
international hair-salon franchise Fantastic Sam's in Memphis more than
35 years ago.
Mr. Ross died Monday of pneumonia at Ave Maria Home in Memphis. He was 81.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Ross was orphaned at age 10, losing
both parents to a car accident, and lived with his grandfather. He
joined the Navy at 17, and after his discharge, he and a military friend
opened a deli in Boston. After only three months, they sold the
business, in which they had invested $30,000, for $200,000.
Success became the hallmark of Ross' business ventures.
After selling the deli, he began a real estate business. He met his
wife, Beverly, while on business in Chicago and in 1970 they moved to
Memphis, where Ross decided to attend barber college.
Employed at a local barber shop, he achieved success as a kid-friendly
barber, bought the shop from his boss and founded the first Fantastic
Sam's in 1973. There are over 1,200 Fantastic Sam's hair salons in the
U.S. and Canada today. Ross sold the hair salon franchise in 1990.
Of his success, Ross told The Commercial Appeal in 2004: "The fickle
finger of God has always pointed me in the right direction."
Ross and his wife also were art collectors who supported many local
artists, said David Lusk, owner of David Lusk Gallery and friend of Ross
for more than 20 years.
"If Sam liked you, he also liked your work," said Lusk.
He described Ross as a "fun man" and a "negotiator" who called himself
"friendly Uncle Sam."
Ross donated large collections of contemporary glass art, valued at over
$1 million, to Christian Brothers University in 1995 and 2008. The
school renamed its art gallery the Beverly and Sam Ross Gallery in 2005.
Ross agreed to have the gallery renamed in honor of his wife, Beverly,
to whom he often gave credit for his success, said Robert Werle,
director of the gallery at CBU.
He is survived by his wife. A memorial service will be Friday at 2 p.m.
at Ave Maria Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ave Maria Home or a charity
of the donor's choice.
--
Trout Mask Replica
KFJC.org, WFMU.org, WMSE.org, or WUSB.org;
because the pigoenholed programming of music channels
on Sirius Satellite, and its internet radio player, suck