RIDGEFIELD, Wash. – Hank Hayden’s haircut stops traffic.

No, really: Cars stop.

As the 82-year-old strolls downtown Ridgefield on a recent weekday afternoon, he garners attention from passersby. “Hey, Hank,” one man shouts, slowing his sport utility vehicle. “Nice hair,” a skateboarder says.

With a cane in one hand, he waves with his free hand, flashing a toothy grin. It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t recognize them. Waves, shouts, and a thumbs up from strangers aren’t out of place for Hank, a fixture in this small town north of Vancouver.

“People who don’t know me take my picture all the time,” Hank said, chuckling.

It’s just a guess, but it’s probably because of the purple mohawk.

It started last summer. On a whim, Hank thought it’d be fun to experiment with the hairdo “just to see what people would say” and because it was something different.

Now, Hank changes his hair color each week depending on his mood or the season. When Ridgefield High School’s baseball and basketball teams compete in the playoffs, he dyes it orange and blue – the school colors.

On Halloween, it’s orange. And this past Easter, the mohawk was pastel striped – the work of his daughter, who purchases the hair dye and gel.

Despite the attraction he gets for the mohawk, those who know Hank appreciate him for much more. They know him for the array of figurative hats he wears in town: live-in groundskeeper at Abrams Park, sports enthusiast, crossing guard, beer buddy and mentor.

Earlier this month, Hank’s most prominent role in Ridgefield came to an end. After 15 years of serving as the Little League groundskeeper, he retired because of his poor heart. He has moved out of his two-bedroom home at the park.

In his honor, the city of Ridgefield named a neighborhood park in his name. The Heron Ridge subdivision’s park is now Hayden’s Park.

For Ridgefield residents, Hank is the whole package: quirkiness, flair and dedication to community issues. An 80-year Ridgefield resident, Hank also is a knowledgeable town historian.

“Everyone knows Hank,” said Matt Swindell, a city councilman and president of Ridgefield Little League. “Hank is like Ridgefield’s grandpa. He’s what gives Ridgefield its small-town feel.”

Even before the mohawk, people knew Hank. Now everyone knows him. “Even if they don’t know his name, they know, ‘the old guy with the mohawk,’?” Swindell said.

The hairdo wasn’t surprising because Hank’s always been a guy who does his own thing. “He is who he is,” said Nick Crockford, a city utility and maintenance worker. “And it doesn’t matter what other people think.”

The Hank haircut became all the rage in Ridgefield and it’s not ending anytime soon.

Hank can’t imagine going back to combing his hair straight and looking like everybody else.

It’s just not him.