Arnold Ralph Brown began barbering in 1955 in Jones' Barber Shop on 18th & Vine. This shop was patronized by such celebrities and dignitaries as The Kansas City Monarchs, The Harlem Globetrotters, Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan, area educators, and a veritable Who's Who in the Kansas City community among others.
In 1957 he began practicing in Maupin's Barber Shop on 23nd and Prospect. Brown was there when the powerful Black political organization, Freedom Inc., was founded and when Maupin was made that organization's treasurer. (It is worth noting that Harold Holiday, Sr., who was to become Freedom, Inc.'s Chairman, had a law practice across the street from Jones' Barber Shop.)
When Brown opened his own shop, The Sportsmen House of Coiffure, in 1967, he continued in the tradition of his mentors and predecessors. Here at the Sportsmen barber shop can be seen a variety of persons from community activists, educators, businessmen, politicians, plain folk, and street folk. Many of the professional athletes patronize The Sportsmen, in particular, many of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Sportsmen barbers and beauticians regularly engage in support of community activities. And the discussions that one is often privity to upon being there can be quite revealing and often insightful. Needless to say that The Sportsmen House of Coiffure enjoys in turn the support of our community.