(Seguin) – Instead of suspects, it was a group of deputies and other Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office employees who were all asked to take their place against the lineup wall. That’s because judges were called in to help identify the latest winners of this year’s No Shave November contest benefiting the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation.
Each year, sheriff’s employees and those at the adult detention center pay a monthly premium to sport the hairy look while in uniform. Those proceeds are then given to the foundation’s All Cancers Endowment and to other charities such as at the Sheriff Santa program which distributes gifts to those in local nursing homes.
Guadalupe County Sheriff Arnold Zwicke says allowing his deputies and employees to put down their razors during this time of the year has proven highly successful.
“The number one deal is the end result is where the money goes, when we put it back in the community to fight cancer, to help Sheriff Santa or different organizations, that is a plus. The fun that these guys have here because they know I’m a little old fashioned and because I think a uniform and a beard don’t mix and maybe that is just me but when they brought it to me the other year and said ‘can we do it for the month of November?’ I’m said yes, let’s put a fee on it and they jumped in and I’m proud of the numbers, the amount of money that we’ve put back into the community to allow them to have that beard for the month or now three months. So, I’m proud of that. It also gives the guys a little time to — with all the frustrating things that law enforcement is dealing right now and 2020 in a hole. A lot of people are going through a lot of issues because of different things, COVID, whatever, it gives them a break and they get to pick on one another about these beards and I think it’s good. It builds a good team. So, I’m happy with that,” said Zwicke.
Winners and judges, front row, celebrate the success of this year’s No Shave November and Pink Nail November at the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office.
As for this year’s top winners, Cpl. Cody Greinke, who works at the detention center, was honored with this year’s 2020 Ugliest Beard Award. Greinke says growing an ugly beard took some talent. “How did I grow this wonderful mane? Lots of care, lots of prenatal vitamins, Rogaine and just manliness, just pure unadulterated manliness,” said Greinke.
Winning the Best Beard Award, also apparently took some effort, an effort that Deputy Travis Caddell says he’s willing to surrender next year.
“I won Best Beard. This is my third time winning. Like what Cpl. Greinke said, I didn’t do the whole prenatal vitamin thing, but I did keep it trimmed, threw a little bit of hairspray in there. My wife is mad at me because I’ve used a lot of her hair conditioner. Again, it’s been a lot of fun. Everybody has been making threats they are going to shave my beard off so I could lose. So, somebody else can win. I probably won’t be doing Best Beard next year, I will be trying something else, give somebody else a shot at it,” said Caddell.
Detention Officer Brian Hickey was also proud to have claimed this year’s award of Father Time. Hickey says to be able to grow a beard while at work makes this the most wonderful time of the year.
The Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office wrapped up its No Shave November contest by presenting its check to the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation on Monday.
“It didn’t take a whole lot of work. I’m from up north so we just generally grow a lot of hair cause we need installation from Massachusetts is where I come from so it’s just natural. Everybody grows a beard in the wintertime. I love growing a beard. I wish we could do it year-round but of course, they don’t let us. We’ll take what we can get,” said Hickey.
Now although Hickey came in and swooped away Robert Gonzales’ award from last year, Gonzales, the maintenance supervisor for the sheriff’s office, says he is still proud of having made the cut by winning this year’s Best Mustache award.
“Last year, I ran, and I got the Father Time. Mr. Hickey beat me this year. He’s a lot grayer so they decided that I had the Best Mustache. I’ve always had facial hair my whole life even through the military, having a mustache that is and then when they do this No Shave November, I let it grow out everything, the mustache as well because normally, I keep it trimmed,” said Gonzales.
Now although they cannot grow facial hair, female employees were not excluded from participating in this year’s contest. In fact, for the last couple of years, the contest has added Pink Nail November for the woman sporting the Prettiest Nails. Taking the top prize for that category was Patrol Cpl. Delane Barnes.
Cpl. Delane Barnes, Pink Nail November Winner
“It kind of gives us that little freedom to where we are not taking vacation and being able to do this. That we can actually be able to do this while we are working. Normally, we have nails that are just neutral. They have to be neutral colors and short length, but it gives a little fun to the job. Even when we go on a call, it’s like almost a conversation piece for them, ‘oh my gosh, your nails!’ It kind of distracts them from what’s going on also. It helps us to where we feel like a girl in uniform basically,” said Barnes.
Of course, the overall winners of the annual fundraiser are the cancer patients in this community. Elaine Bennett, of the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation, says what these men and women have been able to accomplish over the years is just extraordinary.
“We are just overwhelmed with the support that we get from our sheriff’s department and really our entire community for that matter. This again is a lot of money, $5,930 and really accumulative and the commitment that they have, with this donation, they have given our cancer assistance fund over $24,000 over five years. So, we really appreciate their commitment to the community, and we appreciate them taking care of our community as well,” said Bennett.
Sheriff’s officials gathered Monday at GRMC to present the check to the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to advance the mission of the hospital through the development of philanthropic resources and community awareness. Money donated helps to provide innovative, life saving and compassionate care to local residents.