Galesburg resident Todd Grubb recalled he once had a mullet when he was in high school, however the mullet he has today at the age of 60 brought considerable more attention.
Grubb, a 1984 graduate of Galesburg-Augusta High School, recently learned he was the Jared Allen’s Home For Wounded Warriors Mullet contest winner in the adult category.
The nationwide Mullet Championship event was founded in 2020 as an avenue to raise money for veterans.
The mulletchamp.com website notes 100 percent of the contestants’ donations go directly to the Jared Allen’s Home For Wounded Warriors Foundation to aid in the construction of homes for critically injured Veterans.
Grubb got into the contest last year and won the 55 and over division, putting him into the national competition where he finished 5th overall in the nation. The 2023 Mullet champion event raised more than $220,000 for the Jared Allen’s Home For Wounded Warriors Foundation.
After finishing fifth overall last year, Grubb thought he would try one more time.
There are kids and teen categories, however Grubb competed in the adult age 18 and over category. He said he competed this year against approximately 1,500 contestants. Grubb said the contest started in June. Round one qualifying took place July 10-17, and round two qualifying took place July 24 - 30 (the top 100). Round three celebrity judging consisting of Aaron Plessinger, professional Motocross athlete and Boston Connor, an ESPN sports co-host of the Pat McAfee Show, took place August 14-21 to determine the top 25. The winners were announced August 28.
A panel of judges critiqued each mullet based on length, style, uniqueness, and showmanship. Judges were also looking for that special something that makes each mullet stand out from the rest. It could have been the length, the color, or maybe a daring accessory. At the end of the contest, the culmination of the three aspects of the contest determined the winner. It could be the contestant with the most votes, the biggest donation, or the most impressive mullet. Grubb thought he was 1,300 votes below another contestant but he had a higher judge’s score.
After raising $3,800 last year, Grubb said he wanted to double that total and he did that and more, raising $20,027. Grubb received 2,387 votes and had a score of 132. The Galesburg man was also the top donor this year.
Grubb said he was quite surprised at the total he was able to raise. “Absolutely. It blew me away and it kept going,” said Grubb.
Grubb said he used social media, like Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram, to get a lot of support. He said he was at a Detroit Tigers game and he tagged a Canada mullet group that started following him, “and it just snow balled.”
He visited every American Legion in Kalamazoo County, Veterans Associations, VFWs, and the Eagles in Schoolcraft, explaining the fundraiser he was participating in to raise money for veterans.
Grubb adds some employees at Stryker where he works at and whiskey maker Jack Daniels, donated a significant amount of money.
“It’s been a fun ride. I have met lots of interesting people, all the veterans,” said Grubb.
Grubb said he was surprised to learn he placed first.
“I was blown away. I didn’t think honestly I was going to do it. I’m 60 years old. The guys I was competing against are in their 30s. It just blew me away. It just kept getting more attention,” said Grubb, who used the profile name of “Flow Motion.”
Grubb said he received a custom championship belt, similar to a UFC belt, a GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera, and $5,000 which he donated back to the Jared Allen’s Home For Wounded Warriors, for a total donation of $25,000 to the fund, something he was pleased to do.
“It’s all about our veterans. If I can grow my hair and raise money for it and donate it back to them, I’ll do it every year,” said the Galesburg man.
Grubb said other then trimming, he quit cutting his hair at the onset of COVID, however he would get a perm occasionally to get the curls back.
He said George Braymer, a classmate of his who is now a hair stylist and owner of George Salon in Portage, joked to Grubb that he was jealous he didn’t ask the hair stylist to help him prepare for last year’s mullet contest.
Grubb asked Braymer, known as the Hair Maestro, to help him trim and prep for the 2024 contest and it paid off.
“He said don’t color your hair. You’ve got some good salt and pepper going on. He just knew what to do,” said Grubb.
He’s also been surprised how many people have recognized him and were willing to take the time to vote for him. He said when he went on a recent cruise “everybody knew I was the mullet guy on the cruise.”
“They would say you’ve got the coolest mullet ever. After I told them the story, they were like, are you kidding? We’re all voting for you,” explained Grubb.
Grubb said after the contest was over and he was in Florida on vacation at a sports bar, he asked the sports bar employee to play the segment when the announcement was made that he had won the mullet contest on multiple television screens.
“They said is that you? I said yes. I was getting drinks and they bought our dinner. It was awesome. I sucked it up. It was fun, a good time,” said Grubb.
He said his family and friends “think it was awesome,” that he placed first.
He said when he was on the same vacation he learned a sign was put up on the east side of the Galesburg City limits recognizing his first place finish.
Grubb said he has cut about three inches off his hair since he won the contest.
“I might try it one more year and see what happens,” said Grubb.
The Jared Allen Homes For Wounded Warriors was founded in 2009 by Jared Allen who is a former NFL All-Pro defensive end.
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