Locks of Love

Sikeston barber Glenn Pinkerton guides St. Francis Xavier student Katie Schimon as she cuts the hair of the Rev. Scott Sunnenberg, church pastor. Sunnenberg and St. Francis principal Pierre N. Antoine agreed to shave their heads if the school's annual dinner auction raised over $70,000. Proceeds from the winter fundraiser totaled more than $75,000.
(Leonna Heuring, Staff)

promise made earlier this year

SIKESTON -- Temperatures climbed into the 80s, and sweat rolled down Pierre N. Antoine's face on Friday as barber Glenn Pinkerton of Sikeston took electric shears and buzzed the sides of Antoine's hair.

The crowd of St. Francis Xavier students, who were gathered on the paved play area behind the school, started to chant: "Mohawk! Mohawk! Mohawk!"

Pinkerton followed the students' directions and shaved their principal's hair into a mohawk. Then he took out a bottle of pink hairspray and sprayed the strip of hair. The crowd roared with laughter.

Third grader Will Leonard snapped pictures with his camera and shouted: "This is going in my room! ... Mr. Antoine, you're going on You Tube!"

Antoine was just making good on his promise.

A couple of months ago, on the night of the school's winter dinner auction, Antoine and the Rev. Scott Sunnenberg, church pastor, said if the event raised more than $70,000, the pair would shave their heads in front of the students on the last day of school. The fundraiser netted over $75,000.

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