“You either win, or you don’t win. And there are 149 losers every year.” Just so happened that 1999 was Rick Kirvan’s year to win.
Rick moved to Key West and became a bartender at Rick’s Bar/Durty Harry’s across Duval Street from Sloppy Joe’s. Every workday, he has customers stopping to stare, amazed at his resemblance to the famed author. Besides the recognition, Rick was amazed at the media attention – The New York Times, CNN, CNN International, ABC and Good Morning America all weighed in the year he won.
As for Hemingway, Rick says he likes his macho, fisherman lifestyle better than his books.
Rick has served as president and is very involved in the Hemingway Look-Alike Society.