The Full Story  (Johnnie's Bio):

Starkville, Mississippi in the 1940s was a place where racial segregation was strictly enforced, both by Jim Crow laws and by age-old custom. The Jim Crow South was no place for a strong-willed young man like Johnnie Rush, Jr. It was certainly no place to stay after beating up a white man who sat on his daddy’s car and instigated a confrontation with Johnnie. Johnnie Rush Sr. was a sharecropper who eventually ended up owning over 120 acres of land. The Sr. Rush told his 17-year-old son that he needed to go north. Following his mother’s tearful goodbye and two great pieces of advice which was to 1) Always treat people like you want to be treated and 2) Find a good church, Johnnie Jr. settled in Ann Arbor in 1948.

Johnnie became active in Second Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday school and became an usher.  He is still an usher at Second Baptist today. Johnnie met his beautiful wife, Betty, at Second Baptist.  In the beginning, Johnnie rented a room from his uncle. Later, with the assistance of his wife Betty (a former bank teller who eventually became a branch manager), the couple used their business acumen to become landlords and residential real estate investors.

Although they were involved in real estate over the years, that is not what Johnnie became known for.  Johnnie finished high school and entered college at Eastern Michigan University. His business administration classes inspired Johnnie to become an entrepreneur.

Soon Johnnie began to drive to Detroit 6 days a week to attend barber school. He returned to Ann Arbor to become a barber’s apprentice working with John Easley. Soon Johnnie opened his first Barbershop on Ann Street. Combining his knowledge of being a master barber with business and real estate, he purchased a commercial building also known as the Rush Building, on Broadway in 1975. The Rush Barbershop has been in operation at the same location for 45 years. For people who come to the shop, they realize it is more than getting a hair cut or shave. It is an institution. It is a place where one gets an education, communication, collaboration, and inspiration. Rush's Barbershop has always been a place where you could talk sports, spin a yarn, hear a story, have a laugh, and get some wise advice.

Johnnie and his wife Betty have been married for 62 years and have three children, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren of whom they are very proud.  Through Betty and Johnnie’s longstanding residence and contributions in Ann Arbor they have become pillars in the community. Johnnie has served on the Community Leaning Post though volunteering his time to teach and mentor young people. Johnnie has been a patron, contributor  and volunteer to great community groups like the Maxey Boys Training School and the NAACP. 

This year, Johnnie Rush Jr. will retire after over 60 years in business. This will give Johnnie more time to travel, enjoy His wife Betty and family, and continue to contribute to the Ann Arbor community. He may even offer some advice, tell you a good story, or spin a yarn or two. Johnnie Rush is thankful to the community and his many customers. He hopes to leave a legacy of service in the city that he loves - Ann Arbor, Michigan.