“That’s the man! That’s the man! He’s the REAL Santa!” shouted a young boy after laying eyes on Santa Claus, who made a special appearance at his school. A little girl nearby questioned him saying, “How do you know that’s the real Santa Claus?”
The boy pointed to Santa’s big black leather boots topped with pure white fur and shouted, “Because the REAL Santa Claus doesn’t wear tennis shoes!”
That is one of the thousands of little things children from all over west Texas say when they see their favorite person during the Christmas season, Santa Claus, a.k.a. Bobby Jack Bell.
Bobby has been known as the “REAL” Santa Claus for the past 46 years in Levelland, surrounding schools, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals and several holiday events.
“It all started when I dressed up as Santa for my daughter, Susan, who was one year old at the time,” said Santa. “After that, I began visiting the hospital, where my sister was a charge nurse in the labor and delivery wing. I started making special appearances at their Christmas parties every year after.”
“It just snowballed after that,” he added with a nod and a wink.
Santa also has a big helper to assist him in all his visits and Christmas endeavors, Mrs. Claus, who is also known as, Sussan Bell, who happens to be his lovely wife of 30 years.
“This is our busiest time of year,” said Mrs. Claus. “After each year, we may be burned out and want to retire Mr. and Mrs. Claus, but when the holidays arrive, the spirit of “Good Old Saint Nick” rises up inside us and we gear up for another magical year!”
One of the biggest events of the holiday season is the Lighting of the Tree’s at South Plains College and The City of Levelland’s Main Street Festival of Lights and Lighted Parade.
Dressed in his finest suit, polished boots, bearded chin trimmed and white as snow, Santa gives the order with a wink of his eye and a twist of his head, to light the trees and kick-off an evening full of fun-filled Christmas delights!
“The spirit of Christmas really rises up inside me when we switch on the lights at SPC,” said Santa. “It’s exhilarating to see the trees come alive with lights and hearing the excitement of the crowd just goes right to my core.”
The college has more than 41 trees on campus adorned with more than 250 stands of beautiful Christmas lights.
“It’s truly magical,” said Mr. Claus.
Santa is then escorted to the head of the Christmas parade where he rides atop a bright shiny red “sleigh,” with sirens.
As he is pulled by 350 horsepower of holiday cheer, he is eager to get to the downtown square where children of all ages await his arrival.
“When I’m riding along in the parade, waving and hollering my best “HO! HO! HO!” children and adults alike get so excited, they scream and jump up and down, it literally raises the hair on the back of my neck,” said Santa with a grin.
Once Santa arrives to the downtown square, he is escorted to center stage of the courthouse gazebo where hundreds of children are lined up to share their heartfelt Christmas wishes.
“No matter how cold it is or how long the line is, Santa will take his time to visit and listen to every single child and genuinely lets them know that they matter,” said Mrs. Claus. “He has even been caught goofing around with the parents!” she said with a giggle.
“I thought I had heard everything from these sweet kids,” added Santa. “Nothing prepared me for the wishes of one little boy, who sadly came up and shared how he was being bullied at school.”
Santa was moved when the little boy turned and cried into his beard.
Right there in the middle of the gazebo with hundreds of little kids anxiously waiting, Santa bowed his head and prayed for the youngster to find peace and prayed the Blood of Jesus over him and encouraged him to put on the armor of God every morning so he will be protected from the bully.
Santa humbly shared how it warmed his heart to see him look up at him with a sweet smile and his little face all lite up.
“He whispered to me that he could feel Jesus and knew He would take care him,” said Santa. A few weeks later, Santa attended another Christmas event where the same little boy ran up to him with a great big hug and shouted, “Guess what Santa? I did what you said and I put on God’s armor and I’m not afraid anymore! The bully moved!” Santa’s tear filled eyes twinkled and his dimples were merry.
“This is one of hundreds of special moments that has kept the Christmas spirit alive in me over the past 46 years,” said Santa. “The elderly and those who are sick warm my heart just as much.”
Santa also takes the time to visit those whose family requests for him to visit their loved one who may be ill or on Hospice.
One elderly woman’s last wish was to see Santa Claus, so her family requested for Santa to come to the hospital and surprise her with a visit.
Mr. Claus arrived and enjoyed the sweetest time with the woman. Shortly after leaving her bedside, the family called to share that she had passed away just minutes after he had left.
“These memories will stay with me forever,” said Santa. “Mrs. Claus and I are working on our memoirs for an upcoming book that will include a collection of special moments that have blessed us and are excited to share with others.”
Mrs. Claus is also a professional children’s photographer for the past 25 years and is the owner of Fire Angel Photography in Levelland.
The vision of the studio is centered around Christmas. This year, Mrs. Claus put together Santa’s Workshop in the studio for those who enjoy having professional photos taken with Santa.
Children wear elf ears and help Santa paint toys for the North Pole. Afterwards they become an honorary elf for helping Santa.
“The photo shoots are so much fun! And not just for children either! Adults have just as much fun! Sometimes I wonder who is more excited to see Santa, the kids or the parents?” said Santa with a jolly laugh as his little round belly shook like a bowlful of jelly.
“One year, Santa actually visited with 2,467 children between November 3 through December 24,” said Mrs. Claus. “That right there shows just how dedicated and how much Santa loves what he does.”
Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus are residents of Levelland, with Mr. Claus born and raised. Together, they have five elves and seven grandelves.
Tis the season to be jolly! So deck the halls with boughs of holly and hang the stockings by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas will soon be there!
So you’d better watch out! You’d better not cry! Better not pout I’m telling you why! Cuz Santa Claus lives in your town! So be good for goodness sake!
“Merry Christmas to all and to all a Happy New Year!”