Hospital foundation receives reward
(Seguin) — Judges were sure to pull out the magnifying glass as they inspected each hair during this year’s No Shave/Prettiest Nails contest at the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center.
The annual contest which raises funds for local charities including the Guadalupe Regional Foundation again recognized a new batch of winners. This year, the contest allowed $4,960 to be donated to the hospital foundation. Since, 2016, this particular contest has donated a total of $29,315 to the foundation.
This year’s contest proved unique in that this was the first time that law officers were allowed to sport the facial hair all year long. There, however, was a monthly price to play. That’s at least according to Guadalupe County Sheriff Arnold Zwicke.
“That’s the awesome part you know, they want it. Of course, the whole world knows by now that I don’t think a beard in a uniform go together but I’m learning the benefits of doing so with these guys wanting to participate in not only the beard contest but to raise the money for the different organizations through the county. I think it says a lot. I’m proud of the guys and the women here at the sheriff’s office and jail. They are working long hours dealing with everything that we deal with along with dealing with COVID and it’s been a long year and so this gives them some bragging rights and a little time to poke fun at each other and Eddie (Miller) to poke fun at me for not growing a beard, so I think it is awesome,” said Zwicke.
Pulling in the award for Best Beard was Investigator Robert Shockley. Shockley says the competition was tough.
“I was surprised. There was a lot of good candidates out there or quality facial haired people just really surprised, and I think it goes to a good cause so that’s why we do it,” said Shockley.
On the opposite end of Best Beard was this year’s award for Ugliest Beard. Landing the award was Cody Greinke a corporal for the Guadalupe County Jail.
“As far as my efforts, I went all natural this year. I didn’t do anything and apparently, it seems to work out every year but lots of maintaining and my wife helped,” said Greinke.
Also snagging a plaque in the contest was Cpl. Dustin Crawford. Crawford was top in the Best Goatee/Moustache category.
“I was just happy to win, and it goes to a good cause,” said Crawford.
Rounding out the list of facial hair awards was Deputy James Rosas, this year’s winner of Father Time.
“I got the Father Time Award, and the effort was I just grew a beard. It just comes out like this. It’s got the salt and pepper distinguished look. (That’s) all it is,” said Rosas.
A couple of years ago, the No Shave contest was extended with the addition of the Prettiest Nails contest giving all female employees the opportunity to also participate and raise funds for a good cause.
Recognized for her gray sparkling nails was Patrol Clerk Angelica Garza.
“I think it’s actually very nice. It’s a little freedom that we get to see on the deputies – on the women – that they get to show their personalities and have fun with it that way and it also shows their support against cancer,” said Garza.
Pulling out that talked about magnifying glass was Resident and Contest Judge Eddie Miller. Miller is credited for helping to continue the fundraiser by purchasing commemorative plaques for all the winners.
“For one, I am glad that the Sheriff actually let all the deputies grow beards year round because each one of them pay $25 a month and it goes to the charities in Guadalupe County that helps everybody involved and with his leadership and guidance to help promote this, it really helps out a lot of people, not just the morale of the deputies but the other parts of the community, the charitable organizations. But they used to just get bragging rights and I heard about this deal, and I said, I think each one of them because in their career, they need to have something to show for something that they worked on and supported so when they judge this, we give them a plaque. It is something they can have and put in their house and talk about how much fun they had doing it and everything and also which organizations that they support the most and all that. I think it’s very beneficial for the morale in the sheriff’s department plus getting to grow a beard and it only cost you 25 bucks a month and it goes to charity,” said Miller.
Serving again as judges were David Mueller, Angela Campbell, Lois Elley and Eddie Miller.