In celebration of Arizona's centennial, the Star will feature our picks for the 100 best athletes, moments and teams. Throughout the summer, we will showcase our list - with the first 90 in no particular order. In August, Greg Hansen will choose his top 10, with a column on each.
George Greathouse
Achievements
One of the greatest running backs in state history, Greathouse rushed for 4,551 yards and 63 touchdowns in the mid-1950s while playing at all-black Phoenix Carver High School and, following integration, Phoenix Union. Greathouse played most of his football in secret, in part because his mother - who worked nights - was morally opposed to sports. The anonymity was short-lived: Gladys Greathouse learned her son was playing football when a friend from work showed her a newspaper photo of the star tailback.
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"The name being very odd, he thought there must have been some relationship to her," Greathouse said. "When she found out, she told me I couldn't play. It was against her religion. My dad came to my rescue."
Greathouse signed with Arizona State out of Phoenix Union in 1956 and played two years for the Sun Devils before a clash with new coach Frank Kush prompted him to leave the team and drop out of school. Greathouse enrolled in barber college and opened his now-famous shop, Esquire Barber and Beauty Salon, in 1963.
He has run the downtown Phoenix landmark for the last 48 years, serving clients such as Jesse Owens, Meadowlark Lemon, Kevin Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal. The key to cutting the 7-foot-2-inch O'Neal's hair, Greathouse said, is balance. "You gotta get on your tippy-toes," he said.
Greathouse still follows Arizona State sports but has a soft spot for the rival Arizona Wildcats; his sons George (1974-76) and Art (1986-90) both played at the UA.
"When the U of A is playing, I'll root for them," Greathouse said. "When they play ASU, well … I kind of sit and watch."
Current age
73
Hometown
Tollette, Ark. Greathouse was 5 years old when his family moved to Phoenix.
He said it
"Football, to me, was fun. When it ceased being fun, I quit. I don't regret not playing football. I still follow the Sun Devils, and I still follow the U of A."
Ryan Finley
