On Nov. 3, assistant professor of education Dr. Mike Wood relaxes in the Heritage between classes.. Wood received his doctorate in education in May of 2010. Ashe/ Parsons Dr. Wood sits as Santo outside the Santo Hut in Dec 2010. Wood's Santo responsibilities began after Thanksgiving every year and continued until Christmas. Courtesy of Mike Wood M~~® Wood professor and searcy santa It aII started for assistant professor of education Dr. Mike Wood as a small boy, watching his father perform as Santa Claus for the local city children. Wood saw the joy his father brought to dozens of families every year, not knowing that someday he would inherit the very same position. Years later, in the fall of 2010, Wood was looking at his twelfth straight Christmas as the Searcy Santa. Once the spot opened in Searcy, Wood jumped at the opportunity to be the Searcy Santa and follow in his father's footsteps. Wood may have felt that the Ghost of Christmas Past had visited him when he was handpicked to be the next Father Christmas after the previous Santa fell iII. "Every community needs its own Santa, someone familiar year after year, whom everyone feels comfortable and safe to be around, especially dealing with children," Searcy mayor Belinda LaForce said. "Dr. Wood appeals to the community as a man of good reproach that can be trusted with their children. It takes a special person who commits himself longterm to such a worthwhile endeavor." Wood's Santa duties began afterThanksgiving each year with Searcy's Christmas parade. The city provided Wood with a building in which he could set up his Searcy North Pole and where children came to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas and have their pictures taken with him. Wood often spent two to three days a week at the court square taking pictures and handing out goodies to all of the kids. He also did special 15 2 leadership appearances for some local businesses, such as The Sunshine School and many local banks, as well as making private appearances. "It does my heart good to see those kids smile," Wood said. It seemed Wood was meant to play the role; living in Searcy and getting Christmas break off worked perfectly with his schedule, allowing him to go all over the city spreading his Christmas spirit to the delight of children and adults everywhere. "Dr. Wood personifies Santa- a jolly, caring soul with charm and appeal and,a man of good character," LaForce said. Becausetlfthe busy holiday schedule as Santa, Wood had no Christmas vacation outs~ Gf Searcy, but he did not have a problem with that. "It's nice to Rnow all the joy I can bring a kid just by listening to what they want for C:.h•lstmas," Wood said. Senior Marii!,"Gieim, who spent a semester at Harding's educational program in Scotland with Wood, agreed that he was perfect for the job of Searcy Santa. "When I went to Scotland this past summer with Dr.Wood I learned that he is just a fun and energetic man," Gleim said. "He has a love for children and I was able to experience some hysterical moments with him." Wood did not expect to give the Christmas tradition a rest anytime soon. He planned on staying in Searcy as Santa for as long as he could. "As long as they'll have me, I will be the Searcy Santa," Wood said. Ryan Orr
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