The Evolution of the Jim Petty Moustache

When I first Jim Petty in college his face was as bare as it was the day he was born.  His venture in the world of "hair statements" in the early years of our marriage was to let the locks on top grow to the shaggy stage.  We both went long with the hair in the young days.


1972

First year teacher 1970

Young Junior High Principal late 1970s



Late 1980s
 

Campaign poster 1994

Chemo did not defeat the moustache!
 


As a first year teacher, he remained clean shaven for his yearbook photo.  But soon the lure of facial hair began to intrigue him and his experimentation began.  I wasn't quite sure if I would like a moustache at first.  It didn't take long to get used to seeing him taking as much care grooming the hair beneath his nose with a tiny moustache comb and pair of small scissors to keep the "look" in shape.  At times he spent more time in front of the mirror as I did.

The most difficult moustache look to groom was the handlebar that he sported for a while.  Unfortunately, we neglected to get of photo of him with the ends curled up like the villain in a melodrama. He had to buy special wax to keep the curl from drooping at the ends. 

When deer season started to approach, the razor went on holiday.  Beards help keep the face warm in a freezing deer stand was his justification.  I got used to that, too.  But warm weather meant the razor went back on duty.  Hot summer days in the south are not easy on beards.  I don't know how the Duck Dynasty bunch maintain their beards in the Louisiana heat and humidity.

Most folks who knew Jimmy as an adult probably thought he had always had some kind of hair adorning his face, or at least his upper lip.  I don't think our children ever saw him without at least the moustache.  When chemo came into the picture, we wondered what would happen. Jimmy had me shave his head after the first treatment because, as he said, he "didn't want his hair to fall into his Rice Krispies" one morning.  But he didn't want to touch the moustache.  And the chemo didn't touch it either.  The eyebrows disappeared, but the moustache never gave up.  He still had the same smile peeking out from under the moustache and the sense of humor that was the hallmark of Jim Petty never stopped.