Leroy Scholtz, aka Santa Claus

“The adults play along, but the children, they know”
(that's not him, that's me and a different Santa... or is it?)

Mr. Scholtz was originally born in Chicago.  In 1960 he was a postman in Wichita Kansas, when he was asked by a local Sears store to portray Santa for the kids. He used a fake beard and wig at that point, but eventually grew his own. He lost his job with the post office (thanks Peter) due to diabetes, and in 1970 he moved to North Pole NY to become a full time Santa, often appearing on television.

He enjoyed being Santa so much that in 1980 he legally changed his name to Santa Claus.  To keep the name Santa protected, he had to go by Santa C. Claus, the C. standing for Christopher, dontcha know.  He was quite successful in his career, and in keeping with the spirit, he kept only enough money to live on, and gave the rest away.

In December of 1985 he was in Chicago working on a video of Christmas stories.  He intended to return to Chicago to live, in the new year.

He would have celebrated his 25th anniversary of being Santa Claus, had he not died on December 23, 1985, in Chicago. Talk about a bizarre case of injustice. Workers at the Talbott, a very nice downtown Hotel, became alerted when a driver came to pick up Santa for work. They found the 6” 280lb man naked and dead.  

He was 58 years old.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at the old Henrotin Hospital, just a few blocks away.  The hospital is now gone, and in its place are these pricey homes.

He was cremated at the Acacia Cemetery in Chicago, and was shipped to the Love Funeral Home in Limon Colorado (I have no idea why). I phoned the funeral home, hoping to find a grave that actually says Santa Claus, not the one with the screaming kid, but apparently the Cemetery in Limon lost all their records, so Santa Claus’s cremains are gone. 

His sister was listed in the Chicago area, or I should say her name was, but I called both numbers and was unable to get in touch with anyone that knew him. Either that, or they are tired of Christmas time calls from curious people.

Merry Christmas 2006 Death Hags.  I'm off to Michigan on Monday.