For many years, shoppers did a double take when they checked out at Walmart. Was Santa Claus behind the register?
That’s not an issue now as Joe Womack has retired from retail work and become a full-time Santa.
“It’s the greatest pleasure of my life to bring a smile to children’s faces. It’s a wonderful thing,” said Womack, who has been donning a red suit as Santa for 30 years. Santa Joe was handed the mantle by a friend who had worked as Santa for a long time.
“He passed away and left me his suit,” Santa Joe recalled of his friend who bequeathed the nicely detailed Santa outfit. “He paid $300 for the suit, which back then was quite a bit of money.”
Womack said he wore the suit for 15 years before having to retire it. His present suit was handmade by his wife.
Womack noted that being Santa isn’t just asking children what they want for Christmas and posing for pictures. As part of his profession, he and his wife attend Santa workshops and attend Santa conventions to help hone his craft. However, he revealed not much has changed in his 30 years as Santa.
“Other than what they ask for. Now that’s changed over the years,” he said. “You get some pretty different requests. For instance, I had a girl recently ask for a Tennessee walking horse and then another girl asked for a live unicorn. A live unicorn.”
Womack noted that being Santa isn’t always merry as there are some requests that bring a tear to his eye.
“There are some sad things,” Santa Joe admitted. “There was a kindergartener a while back who didn’t want any toys. All he wanted was a Christmas tree.”
After hearing the request, Santa Joe and his wife realized they had a tree at their home that would fit the bill perfectly. They returned to the child’s school with the tree.
“He was wiping tears from his eyes when he saw the tree that was going to be his own Christ-mas tree,” Santa Joe said.
Another child recently told Santa all she wanted was to have her family be together and that they were traveling out West to be with their family.
“She asked me to pray that they had a safe trip,” he said. “We prayed right there together.”
Womack said he isn’t shy about showing his faith as the season is about the birth of Jesus Christ.
“I hope I show what Jesus is about,” he said. “Love and kindness.”
As for being Santa, he has found himself booked over this season, sometimes putting in nine consecutive hours in his Santa suit. He plans to pursue the same schedule next year.