The Geaux Bearded Story
The Geaux Bearded Story
Thomas (“Tommy”) Kissinger, Geaux Bearded's founder, was not always a purple and gold bleeding Baton Rouge, Louisiana boy. Born in 1973, he grew up in Northern Virginia in a small city named Dale City, Virginia. While attending Gar-Field High School he excelled as a musician and fell in love with the sound of the trumpet. In 1991 he was granted a full scholarship as a trumpet performance major to attend Louisiana State University – LSU. Thomas attended LSU from 1991-1994. During that time he marched in The Golden Band From Tigerland and played in the LSU Jazz Ensemble. In 1994 he left LSU to pursue other interests.
In 1995, Thomas married the love of his life, Sarah. He took a position in the building industry, and after a 20-year journey, started his own company– Tommy’s Windows, Doors & Siding. Along the way, they had three children, Moriah, Makayla, and Micah.
In 2019 Thomas and Sarah took a trip to Breckenridge, Colorado.
Oh boy…did this ever change things.
For the first time ever, Thomas experienced a new and life-changing experience in the mountains. The mountains changed him…
In the words of John Denver… (sing it if you know it)
🎵 He was born in the summer of his 46th year,
Coming home to a place he’d never been before…🎶
🎵 He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again,
You might say he found a key for every door…🎶
After this, the mountains were ever on his mind. He went once a year to Colorado, sometimes twice a year.
In 2022, he once again planned a trip to Colorado with several of his close friends. One of his employees (and good friend) Nate Harris mentioned how cool it would be if they grew their beards out…for a long time. Days went by and they forgot about it. Several days later (on March 19, 2022 to be exact) it hit Thomas. Ok…
“The beard challenge is on for the Colorado trip.”
Then next day, Thomas announced to all the guys going on the trip, the challenge: to grow your beard out from now until the trip.
Four months later they went to the mountains of Colorado with BIG MOUNTAIN BEARDS! He and his buddies climbed four 14ers (14,000-foot mountains) and had a spectacular time…“bearded” in the mountains.
During the four months leading up to the trip, Thomas began to check out various YouTube channels devoted to beards and beard care. He came across great resources and felt the urge to support the Bearded Brotherhood.
After coming back from the mountains Thomas continued to grow his beard, now identifying with the bearded community he recently discovered. Being an entrepreneur at heart, it hit Thomas one day…how awesome would it be to launch a beard products company. He reached out to Dan Command as a mentor for consultation and guidance.
The result…Geaux Bearded was born!
Let it be known to all those of the bearded brotherhood, the “call to the mountains” is what sparked the beard and the beard products company.
Oh, how I love the mountains of Colorado…says this Louisiana boy…Geaux Tigers!
“Mountains are calling…and I must…Geaux Bearded!”
Much love to my bearded brothers everywhere.
Yours Truly,
Thomas Kissinger