On one hot August evening, social studies teacher Brian Murphy and his wife made their way down Main Street in Kansas City Kan., heading to the old rustic bar Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club to watch the first ever Kansas City Mustache Contest. Little did they know, their innocent intentions would lead to a second place prize.

“My wife saw an ad in the newspaper, and it sounded like a really neat retro place,” Murphy said. “We had never been there before and we had nothing better to do, so my wife and I drove down there to see what it was like.”

At first, Murphy did not anticipate to actually compete in the mustache contest. Murphy said he and his wife just wanted an excuse to get out the house and do something unique. After waiting in a long line, a stranger asked if Murphy was in the competition. He replied no, but the man told him he had a good shot at winning.

“I said, ‘Why not?’ and paid $5 for the cover charge, which was a donation for Wayside Waifs, and next thing you know I am standing up on the stage,” Murphy said.

As Murphy and the other competitors in the “Un-groomed Mustache” category stood up on the stage waiting to be judged, he said they had to answer a funny questionnaire while they waited. One question asked the contestants what they did not like about having their facial hair.

“Believe it or not, my mustache is really a pain in the neck. Every time I eat, food gets stuck in it, or I will wake up in the morning and have one or two hairs sticking out all over the place,” Murphy said. “A lot of people comb it, put wax on it and groom it and all that but I don’t do that very often.”

After the questionnaire and the critique, Murphy took second place.

“They had money as prizes, but what I did was take that money and donated towards the event they had, which was raising money for animals,” Murphy said.

With his prize and newfound pride, Murphy said he now notices mustaches much more when he goes out.

“Everybody has the facial hair,” Murphy said. “Heck, everywhere I go people have a mustache or a beard. Now everywhere I look everyone is growing a mustache or a beard – look at all the baseball and football players, and Duck Dynasty. Everybody has the facial hair. I had no idea it was that prevalent.”

Surrounded by the common facial hair, Murphy once decided to make a change and shave his off. He said his wife proclaimed he looked hideous, and demanded he grow it back.

“To me, it looks weird,” Murphy said. “But my wife likes it, and I get a lot of comments, so I guess I’ll keep it.”