Earl

Bearded since: 2007. I am a dedicated, permanent beard grower.

Comments:
My beard started off as a layoff beard. When I became employed three months later, I decided to continue to grow it until I was asked to trim it down. As a corporate employee, the dress code only allowed a length of one inch. It's been five years and it continues to grow.

How do I feel about my beard? By all rights, genetically, I should not have been able to grow a beard. My father couldn't grow any facial hair, my brother, only a mustache. For that reason, I am very proud of my beard. People are always complimenting me on it. I definitely stand out in a crowd! I feel that by having a longer beard in the corporate world, I am showing that beards are very respectable. When visiting stores, customers have told me they appreciate seeing a person who looks more like them running things. I believe that by putting a good face forward, people will be more accepting of beards, particularly longer ones.

Also see Earl in the Pennsylvania album: http://www.beards.org/images/displayimage.php?pid=5345