The William Marvy Company’s barber poles, encased swirls of red and blue above a rounded stainless-steel base, hang on street corners around the country. The company began creating the vibrant
signposts in St. Paul three generations ago. Modern versions of the bloody rags used by surgeon-barbers in the Middle Ages, barber poles are well-known icons, but the Marvy family story is
largely unknown. From his humble beginnings as the son of a Latvian émigré carpenter through the growing pains of his namesake company, Marvy showed business acumen and innovation that
culminated with his invention of a shatterproof barber pole, ensuring the company’s continued success. From crew cuts and the Beatles up through today, barber poles have remained an easily
recognized social constant.
