Sheriff’s Department grows beards for a cause

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Thirty men put away their razors for the month of November to see who could grow the fullest, best beard.
Members of the Coryell County Sheriff’s Department celebrated No Shave November by having their own beard growing competition. 
Participants donated between $5 and $30 to enter raising a total of $615. The money raised was donated to Mike Boardman of the Good Ol’ Boys Hunting Club.
“We searched for a non-profit to donate to, and we came across the Good Ol’ Boys Hunting Club…I’m all about supporting our soldiers. We have lots of vets that work for us,” said Sheriff Scott Williams. “We really respect what Mike does for the guys and gals to be able to take them hunting and have some fellowship with them.”
Every fall, the Good Ol’ Boys Hunting Club takes a group of soldiers out on a four-day hunting trip. They typically take the last brigade to have returned from deployment. Boardman said that the soldiers can sit around a campfire and just have a relaxing weekend. He added that the group is about improving the relationships between soldiers and the surrounding area. 
Boardman said that they have their hunting trip near a small town in the middle of nowhere. He said that many people in the Fort Hood area are desensitized to the military, as most residents are associated with the military somehow. To many in this area, soldiers arriving home from a deployment happens all the time; however, the people in that area have almost no experience with soldiers. Boardman said that it’s really great getting to connect them with the soldiers.
“They definitely have a good time,” said Boardman.
“It feels good to win,” said James Kitchens, the winner of the beard growing competition. “This is the first time in my life I’ve grown a beard. It was quite an experience…I was glad to do it for a great cause.”
Those interested in learning more about the Good Ol’ Boys Hunting Club or donating to them can do so via their Facebook page.