Role of Santa is filled yearly
12/19/2007
Messenger-Inquirer
Fifty years ago marked a changing of the guard at the annual Goodfellows Christmas Party.
For the first time, Santa Claus was to be played by Capt. Ed King, an instructor and inspector with the Owensboro Marine Corps Reserve, who was replacing longtime volunteer Stuart Bailey in the white beard and red suit.
Donations had topped $2,000 that year with just days to go before the annual Goodfellows party.
"Ed tells us he played Santa quite successfully for a group of South Korean children during the Korean outbreak," the "Santa Claus Editor" wrote in the Dec. 19, 1957, issue of the Messenger-Inquirer. "As things look today, this year's Goodfellows Christmas Party is going to be one of the best, if not the best, in the history of the organization of Goodfellows."
The role of Santa Claus has fallen to dozens in the 91 years since that first winter in 1916 when Goodfellows began.
For years, volunteers from the Owensboro Fire Department played Santa Claus at the annual Christmas party, said longtime Goodfellows volunteer Ella Mae Peay.
"It's been a pretty wide variety of people over the years," Peay said. "Many years back, (the fire department) had a volunteer that would be Santa for us."
This year, Santa will arrive at the Sportscenter again atop a motorcycle and make a lap around the arena before hundreds of excited children.
"They all cling to him and want to talk to him," Goodfellows volunteer Sue Trautwein said.
Along with his helper, played by Janie Walther, Santa will hand out candy to the singing children before they select their gifts.
This will be Billy Joe Gaddis's second year as Santa at the Christmas Party, and party committee chairwoman Carla Vied said Gaddis brings experience to his job as the "jolly old elf."
"He loves it," Vied said. "He's done it for different organizations."
The Goodfellows Christmas Party for nearly 1,200 children will be held Saturday at the Sportscenter.
Donations can be made to Goodfellows Club, Messenger-Inquirer, Box 1480, Owensboro, KY 42302 or by bringing contributions to the newspaper office at 1401 Frederica St.
Today's Roll Call
Previously reported $81,989.10
BKD Soup Day for Kids $508
In memory of Thomas Roger
Humphrey by Roger and Pat
Humphrey $500
In memory of Katherine, Hattie,
Pete, Myron, and Margaret $250
In honor of Hilltop neighbors by
Bill and Marilyn Bryant $200
In memory of our parents, Jill and
Adele Iracane, and Bernon and Mary
Graham by Joe and Rhonda
Iracane $200
Sara Lee Sales Team $138
In honor of David Rosenberg by
Tapscott Employees $125
PRIDE and Western KY Botanical
Gardens Soup Day for Kids
additional contribution $125
In loving memory of my husband,
David W. Puckett $100
In honor of our parents, Hugh Ike
and Carma Eaton, and Edwin and
Greta Whitehead by Brad and
Barbara Whitehead $100
In memory of Everett Thompson by
wife, children, and grandchildren $100
In honor of our grandchildren and
great-grandchildren, Christina,
Shaina, Miranda, Felicia, Jordan,
Tyler, Brooklyn, and Logan $100
Higdon Construction Company $100
Thomas and Elizabeth Gaston $100
In memory of Thelma McDaniel,
Ivan C. McDaniel, Jim Hutchens,
Carolyn Flynn, Bob Flynn, and
Sweetie Ramey $100
Dec. 25, 1921 $86
In honor of Gary Sisk, Merry
Christmas from your employees
at Office Equipment Company $80
In memory of Jay and Inice
Feldpausch Marjorie Oakley, Mary
Sowders and Shirley Oakley $70
In honor of Mrs. Higdon by her 3rd
grade class at Highland Elementary $65
In loving memory of Dorothy and
Earl Hill by Betty, Peggy, and Phil $60
In memory of Edwin and Helen
Trogden $58
In loving memory of Jerry Jones
by the neighborhood "the block" $50
John Jr. and Doris Campbell $50
Owensboro Garden Club $50
In memory of Nancy Gaddis and
Hazel Robinson $50
In memory of Bud and Mary
Robinson, and Kermit and Lois
Robinson by Mike, Cheri, Travis,
Mandy, Michelle, and Craig $50
In memory of Margaret Roach and
Alyce R. Anderson $50
In memory of James R. and Mary
Allen, and Harold Baker by Jim
and Donna Allen $50
In memory of Chick, Betty Jo, and
Holly Thompson $50
In memory of Missy $40
In memory of Lisa Dianne Payne,
Kevin Rhodes, and Lori Ann Boling,
by E. French $30
Anonymous $25
In memory of my friend, Bertha
Glenn by Juanita Weber $25
In memory of my son, Clifford D.
"Cliff" Rostron by Juanita Webber $25
Elvin and Edith Wall $25
In memory of Donald E. and Hazel
R. Smith, and Frederick N. and
Minerva Dale Lewis by
grandchildren, John, Jr. and Genna,
and Brian K. and Sandy, and great-
grandchildren, Madison, Mary,
Andria, Azlin, Jade, and Gavin $25
In memory of Bill and Kathleen
Rocco $25
R.H. Meadows $25
In honor of Mrs. Henry, Mrs.
Tucker, Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs.
Robin, Mrs. J. Owens, Mrs.
Chestnut, and Mrs. Harris by
Forest Clark $25
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year to our family and friends, and
in memory of our son "Denny" by
Dennis and Nancy Bickett $25
In honor of Eva Marie Hall $10
A friend $8
Total as of Dec. 19 $85,867.10
