Busting his chops: Pa. man wins sideburns contest that celebrates hero of 1813 battle

ERIE, Pa. – The winner has been named in a Pennsylvania sideburns contest that honours a U.S. Navy commodore known for his impressive facial hair.

The Erie Times-News (http://bit.ly/15fJeeZ ) reports that 56-year-old Dave Baxter, of Lake City, Pa., topped 19 contestants on Wednesday evening. Officials say one contestant dropped out because he recently got a new job, had to move and was required to shave.

Contestants were asked to show their patriotic spirit by growing sideburns most like those of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.

Baxter says he researched images of Perry to try and match the hero who commanded a nine-ship American fleet to victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813. Historical portraits suggest that Perry wore long mutton-chop sideburns that extended toward his lips.

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