A Brief Message from Ric Erwin
I am both honored & humbled by the faith & trust which has been placed in me—all the more so since it comes from a man whom I respect as much as I do Tom Hartsfield.
I long ago came to the conclusion that Tom was one of those men whom Teddy Roosevelt spoke of—you know, the ones who “have greatness thrust upon them”? A quiet man in word, deed & dress, I have rarely met a Santa Claus who less cared whether or not you remembered to call him “Santa”—and I have rarely met a man who more deserved that honorific.
The last time Tom was in L.A. he & I went to a local comedy club with two other Santas. As usual, the other three of us went dressed as Santa—but not Tom. Fully expecting to blend in with the crowd, he wore that legendary cowboy hat of his--- and ignoring the de facto dress code of the Land of Sand ‘n Surf (tropical shirts 'n shorts, typically), Santa Tom sported a shoe-string tie & a colorful pendant!
1. So guess who all the other guests wanted a picture with?
2. And guess who the comedians had the most fun with?
3. And guess who laughed loudest when the joke was on HIM?
Let’s see…
1. Right…
2. Better Believe It… and
3. YOU BETCHA!
I have always enjoyed chatting with Tom; in a roomful of storytellers, he could spin a show-stopper—and then later you’d find out from somebody else that it was all true!
Somehow, I even got over my professional envy of Santa Tom...
Even-tually , that is...
I and a few others have known for some time that Santa Tom was considering full retirement, so that he could spend all of his time with his children— in a more rustic & pastoral environment.
And now that this day has finally arrived, I can't even be sad---
in fact, perhaps we have come full circle, and Tom’s done it again:
...I think I might just envy Tom Hartsfield now-- MORE THAN EVER!
Santa Ric Erwin
Exec. Director,
IOSFmr. Director, National Secretary & Webmaster, FORBS