As the world's leading facial hair advocacy organization and think tank today opened voting for the Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year, the American Mustache Institute (AMI) confirmed it will bring its annual charitable benefit -- along with a bastion of rugged good looks -- to Richmond, Virginia, in late October.
Finalists for the 2014 Goulet Award -- once noted by the late Walter Cronkite as, "perhaps the most vital signal of all that is good, sexy and clean in America" -- include the Cleveland Indians pitching staff, Utah Mayor Dan Snarr, Richmond-area facial hair advocate Stephen Dash Brown, Bernie Brewer and others.
The winner will be crowned October 25, at AMI's annual hairy Halloween benefit --'Stache Bash 2014 presented by Wahl Trimmers , which according to Wahl is inventor of the cordless facial hair trimmer. The event benefits M4K Richmond, which raises funds to improve the quality of life for Richmond-area children by charitable fundraising through mustache growth and events.
"In spite of its rich facial hair history of Confederate generals, clergymen, and horseshoe fitters wearing good looking facial hair, when we introduced America's Most Mustache-Friendly Cities in 2011, Richmond finished a disappointing 86," said Dr. Adam Paul Causgrove, AMI chief executive. "But since then, through work with great local organizations like the RVA Beard League and M4K -- and before Councilman Parker Agelasto made such a costly error in judgment by shaving off his mustache -- it is clear the climate has changed and it is time to bring the greatest celebration of the sexually dynamic Mustached American lifestyle to Richmond."
Prior winners of the Goulet award -- who have all attended the 'Stache Bash events at which they were crowned -- include Major League Baseball players John Axford and Clay Zavada, retired New York City police detective Tim Galvin, and civil servant D. Bruce Hanes.
"The Goulet Award is such an honorable citation and we hope Councilman Agelasto attends the coronation so that he can be inspired by the 2014 winner," added Dr. Causgrove. "Clearly, the councilman hurt the movement, as according to biblical text, 'each time a mustache is shaved, an angel in heaven dies and falls to earth.' So that must weigh heavily on his conscience. At least he's still tall."