(Portions of the following is reprinted from the July 14 Lexington Herald-Leader by Jack Brammer)

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Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin is growing a beard.

For the first time in recent memory, Kentucky’s top elective leader is showing off more than a five o’clock shadow.

Bevin jokingly told reporters Wednesday, July 13 after a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda, that he decided that he’ll shave again “when I am no longer being sued by people in state government.”

“It could be pretty long here in three and a half years,” he said.

Bevin has been sued by Attorney General Andy Beshear for his revamping of several boards, the House Speaker Greg Stumbo has sued the governor in his handling of vetoes in this year’s legislative session.

Bevin, 49, then said: “I just decided to give my face a break for a few days.”

The beard on the Republican govern is dark in the mustache and gray on the sides and chin.

The last Kentucky governor who was depicted with a full beard in his official portrait was Democrat Thomas E. Bramlette, who was in office from 1863 to 1867.

Democratic Gov. Preston H. Leslie, who led the state from 1871 through 1875, had a beard but no mustache. Democrat John Young Brown (1891 to 1895) had a goatee.

As a matter of trivia, local historian Walton “Chip” Haddix conveyed that both governor’s who sported a full beard were both born in Clinton County. According to Haddix, Bramlette was born in Clinton County near the old Spring Creek bridge and Leslie was born near where the current Gaddie-Shamrock quarry is located today.