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Texas city councilman's facial hair earns him Man of the Year

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LEON VALLEY, Texas, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Wahl Clipper Co. announced a Texas city councilman's facial hair led to his being dubbed Man of the Year by the company.

The grooming products company said Leon Valley City Councilman Ricardo Ruiz's "clever handle-bar mustache and goatee combination" allowed him to edge out 14 other finalists from across the United States to earn the Man of the Year title and a $1,000 prize, the San Antonio Express-News reported Wednesday.

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Ruiz, 40, said he has sported his facial hair for about 20 years.

"With a great mustache comes great responsibility," he joked.

Ruiz was entered in the contest when he won a regional competition in San Antonio about four months ago.

The councilman, who also owns Cha-Cha's restaurant in Leon Valley, said his facial hair also helps him to make new friends.

"It's a conversation piece of sorts," Ruiz said. "People don't typically come up and say 'hi' to strangers anymore. But something about my mustache creates an emotion inside people that causes them to approach me, usually to tell me how much they like it."

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