HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As the Hyde Park neighborhood prepares for the 41st Luminaries in December, Richard Hall, who has been the ambassador for the North Pole at the Luminaries for decades, is unable to continue in 2024.
Angela Rice passed on to Hutch Post some memories of Hall's time in the red suit, compiled by his daughter, Joleen Jantz. These reflections are hers, but they are a fitting tribute to the goal of keeping the spirit of Christmas alive that Hall showed over the years.
Matthew Jantz, Hall's Grandson, was in the Hutchinson Hospital for 2 weeks before and during Thanksgiving in November 1988. Matthew was 2. After Thanksgiving, Matthew got transferred to the KU Medical Center in Kansas City. He was there for 4 weeks. There were a lot of local visitors, but Richard saw how hard it was on the family. Matthew’s sister Danielle would stay with Richard and Imogene a lot, or she would spend some time with her other grandparents and some with her dad, while her mom was in KC with Matthew. Sometimes Richard and his wife Imogene would bring Danielle to Kansas City. They would stay with Matthew, while Mom and Dad had time with Danielle. It was a rough month. That year Richard decided, he was going to become Santa.
In 1989, Imogene, who was a seamstress, made him a Santa suit. He spent Christmas morning at the Hutchinson Hospital. He visited every patient and handed out candy canes. He did his rounds until last year. From there it spread. He started doing a few private appearances. He did a few schools, he became the Santa for the Hutchinson Holiday parade, the Downtown Santa, and the Santa at the Luminaries in Hyde Park. He purchased all the candy canes himself. He never asked for payment. Although, people would sometimes generously give him some compensation.
Several years after he began, Imogene decided she wanted to help. So she created a costume for herself, and she went as Mrs. Claus. Sometimes the children would come to her instead of Santa.
In December 2014, Hall's great grandchildren were living in South Carolina. Their dad was on deployment for the USAF, so Danielle (granddaughter), Logan (great grandson) and Kailey (great granddaughter) came home for Christmas. Family picked them up at the airport and went straight to Hyde Park for the Luminaries. As they walked up, Santa greeted them by name, and he knew every detail about them. Their names, where they lived, where their dad was, they had come home for Christmas. They were shocked. As we walked away, Kailey said “Grandma, that’s the real Santa, he knew my name without me telling him.”
Here's hoping that someone will be able to provide that service to the Salt City. If you are interested, contact Rice at [email protected].