A few times each year we will take the time out to honor those people, either near or far, public or private, whose actions and contributions while sporting fine facial hair have made them worthy of acclaim. Someone who has been an outstanding facial hair representative to the voluntarily (or involuntarily) clean-shaven.

We hereby award The Follicles of the James ‘Stache & Beard League MVF (Most Valuable Follicles) Award and honorary league membership to legendary Hollywood filmmaker, Steven Spielberg.


Our inaugural recipient is a man involved as director or producer with the cultural touchstones of Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., the first three Indiana Jones, the Back to the Futures, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, and of course, Animaniacs.

His beard is among the most famous in Hollywood, rivaling that of George Lucas’ in its longevity. It’s safe to say that Mr. Spielberg’s beard has lasted longer than some of the careers of the people he's directed.

The lead-up to the filming of Lincoln (a.k.a. "Office Seekers") in Richmond and Petersburg this October and November has so-far to be a social and economic boon to the region, to say nothing of raising the profile of Richmond and, of course, its proudly bearded citizens and our former bearded presidents.

We hereby salute you and your beard, Mr. Spielberg. Our childhoods and lives would be a much less imaginative place without the two of you.

The members of The Follicles of the James ‘Stache & Beard League
Richmond, Virginia