On a beautiful Arizona night at 'Stache Bash 2012 in front of some 1,000 Mustached Americans and interested third parties, Pittsburgh-native Adam Paul Causgrove was crowned the American Mustache Institute's 2012 Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year, presented by Wahl Trimmers.
In what has historically been a close competition, Causgrove -- a University of Pittsburgh employee and Mustached American fixture in Pittsburgh's not-for-profit community -- took home 66 percent of 1.3 million total votes.
He finished ahead of retired Los Angeles County Sherriff's Dept. officer and minister Tony Miano (10 percent), U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms Terry Gainer (5 percent); and easily outdistanced celebrity candidates including NBC television star Nick Offerman, St. Louis Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher and Indiana gubernatorial candidate John Gregg.
"This is the single greatest moment of my life, and that's not an exaggeration," said a stunned Causgrove. "I'm very proud to be representing Mustached Americans both across our great country and abroad to inferior nations."
Causgrove's candidacy was based on his rugged good looks and philanthropic works, having founded Tail-Great, an annual tailgating event benefiting charities such as Steps to Independence and the Pittsburgh Animal League. He also spearheaded the creation of Mount Washington Olympia dog park and is a founding member of Side Project, Inc., which helps Pittsburgh nonprofits receive government grants and funding.
Determined by popular vote and now in its fifth year, the Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year is not a "best mustache" contest, but is awarded to the person who is deemed to best representing the sexually dynamic Mustached American lifestyle.
In saluting Causgrove's ruggedly handsome victory, the 2011 winner reflected on the significance of winning the Goulet award.
"Winning was so special," said Milwaukee Brewers pitcher John Axford, who will host Causgrove and his family at a Pittsburgh Pirates game when he plays the team next season. "It's by far the greatest award I'll ever win, and is a true, manly privilege to have been recognized for my contributions to the mustache community."
Past Goulet award winners include retired New York City police detective Tim Galvin (2008), Major League Baseball pitcher Clay Zavada (2009), Orlando-area firefighter Brian Sheets (2010), and Axford (2011).
'Stache Bash 2012, presented by Wahl Trimmers, is the American Mustache Institute's annual costume-heavy music and mustache charitable benefit. The 2012 event served as the centerpiece of downtown Mesa's Nightmare On Main Street and benefited the Barrow Neurological Foundation, a nonprofit support foundation dedicated to raising funds for the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.