2001 Winner: Denny Woods
2001 Winner Denny Woods
2002 Winner: Ron Thomas
Ron Thomas had no idea getting into the Hemingway Look-Alike competition that it would bring him face to face with those who drank with, slept with, and punched Papa. On his first attempt to win, six years before he captured the top prize in 2002, Ron made his first trip to Key West, discovering immediately […]
2003 Winner: Mike Stack
As long as I’m alive, I’ll be at the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest,” promised Mike Stack, 2003 winner and then judge at the annual event. Mike’s devotion to the cause and camaraderie of the colorful conclave typifies the passion gripping the grizzled guys who compete for the coveted title of Papa. An electrical contractor from the […]
2004 Winner: John Stubbings
I was in Key West in March of 1997 helping a good friend celebrate his 60th birthday. We were at Hog’s Breath during Spring Break week and had consumed way too much malt beverage when we ran into a guy with a white beard. I had grown a beard while on vacation in Spain the […]
2005 Winner: Bob Doughty
With 13 being Bob’s lucky number, 13 friends in tow for the weekend, #13 on a lotto ticket purchased Saturday evening, and after 13 years of trying for the coveted title, Bob was hoping this was his night. Lo and behold…Bob Doughty was named Papa 2005 at the 25th annual Hemingway Days Festival. He beat out […]
2006 Winner: Chris Storm
When Jean Klausing announced my name as the winner of the 2006 Hemingway Look-alike competition, I felt many emotions: elation at having won, appreciation for the years of support from my family and friends, and sadness knowing my competitive days were over. I’d come to really enjoy the preparation and practice that went into trying […]
2007 Winner: Larry Austin
For nine years, Larry Austin stood outside Sloppy Joe’s and listened as the name of the newest Papa was announced. 2007 was the one year he didn’t know the announcement was being made and that was the year his name was called. Thankfully, someone else heard it and told him. He had been warned that […]
2008 Winner: Tom Grizzard
Tom Grizzard, Papa 2008, recalls the summer of 2000, as the year “this all started.” They were visiting Key West when his wife, Linda, noticed a Hemingway t-shirt and thought Tom “really looked like Papa.” Tom made the 2001 finals the first year he entered and he was hooked. Tom said of Hemingway, “I relate […]
2009 Winner: David A. Douglas
“I could not believe my ears. I was in shock. Eight years of emotions flowed through my body. As I joined the other Papas on stage, I was still loaded with emotions and disbelief of this great accomplishment.” That’s how David Douglas remembers the moment he was announced Papa 2009. David’s interest in the contest […]
2010 Winner: Charles Bicht
I first learned about the Hemingway Look-a-Like contest in the early 90’s. Friends and family started saying I looked like Hemingway and I should enter the contest. It wasn’t until 1997 that I decided to go to Key West for the competition. As fate would have it I read in the newspaper that the entire […]