Bobby

Bearded since: 1995. I am a dedicated, permanent beard grower.

Comments:
I grew my beard because it's an amazing boost to my sense of well-being and it makes me feel that much more of a man. Also, when you run into people you haven't seen for a while, the first words out of their mouth are usually, "WOW! What a huge beard!" It becomes a conversation starter and people respect the fact that you had the courage to grow it.

How do I feel about my beard? It will be a part of me for the rest of my life as I plan to never shave again. I want to look like my great grandfathers. I just retired from a long and rewarding banking career and I said in my company newspaper interview that one of my retirement plans was to grow a World Championship Beard. The whole bank from Chicago to Miami is cheering me on now!