A Wisconsin man, Gerrit Marshall, won the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, part of Key West’s annual Hemingway Days celebration.
At the heart of the competition: 68-year-old Marshall triumphed over nearly 140 other entrants after 11 attempts.
* He celebrated victory on his birthday at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, a favorite of Ernest Hemingway when he lived in Key West in the 1930s.
* Each competitor emulated Hemingway’s rugged “Papa” persona, and Marshall cited shared traits like love for the outdoors and fishing.
What the winner said: Marshall expressed his joy, stating it was the best birthday he ever had.
* He mentioned his love of the outdoors and fishing, similar to Hemingway, and his single happy marriage, unlike Hemingway who had four.
By the numbers: The Hemingway Look-Alike Contest is not just about appearance, it also aids in raising scholarship funds for Keys students.
* Hemingway Look-Alike Society president David Douglas estimated they accrued close to $125,000 during the 2023 festival.
Context: Hemingway Days is an annual festival that celebrates the iconic author’s lifestyle and literary legacy.
* Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West from 1931 until late 1939, where he wrote classics like “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “To Have and Have Not”.
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