OGDEN -- Mike Reddish needed a little cosmetic assistance the first time he portrayed Santa Claus some 15 years ago. His thick, bushy beard was just a bit too dark to complete the illusion.
"It all started out years ago when a friend suggested that I channel Santa Claus for his holiday party," said Reddish, whose snowy beard flows down onto his chest. "We got the suit, and lightened up my beard a bit with some special spray -- it was a huge hit with everyone."
Once his wife saw him as Santa Claus, there was no turning back.
Over the years, he's donned the red suit, cap and boots about 250 times for businesses or family gatherings, including numerous appearances at the city's Christmas Village.
"I was at work wondering what he looked like when Santa came walking in with a rose," said Sue Reddish.
"I couldn't believe how great he looked, but he's perfected it over the years as his beard got longer and whiter on its own."
Sue keeps track of how many times Mike plays Santa and follows him to most of his Christmas events.
"It's neat to see the kids' faces light up when they see Santa," Sue says. "Their little heads looking up at him and giving him their Christmas lists is adorable."
On his throne inside Santa's Workshop a few hundred feet from Ogden Amphitheatre, children of all ages, shapes, and sizes take turns making their holiday requests.
"Some of these kids think Santa's Workshop is a pet store," Mike said. "One boy wants a dog, another little girl wants a pony, someone else may ask for a snake."
Waiting in line to see Santa can be too much for some kids to endure.
"Sometimes the babies will be extra stinky," Mike said, gesturing as if he were gently pushing a baby to the end of his knee. "Those don't stay on my lap too long."
Reddish returns to his jolly red suit each year because it reminds him of his childhood and the pleasure he got from his seasonal visits to Santa.
"When I was a kid my Dad would take us to RC Willey so we could see Santa," he said. "Every year I always waited for the day in December when we got to 'RC' and see Santa Claus."
He has the most fun each year when Buffalo Bro's Tire Outfitters invites him to sit atop a large concrete buffalo that sits 20 feet above traffic at the intersection of 1900 West and Riverdale Road in Roy.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" he bellows out while waving to drivers in rush-hour traffic on the road below. Horns begin honking and windows roll down so cell phone cameras can capture a special holiday moment.
"What are you doing up there?" a blonde-haired boy in an SUV yells to Santa atop the roof.
"I'm watching you to make sure you have been good," Santa hollers back. "Merry Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!"
Despite having fun as Santa, it wears on Reddish by the time Christmas comes.
"Being Santa is a pretty big job and tires him out at the end of each holiday season," says Sue Reddish while poring through photographs of her Santa from over the years. "Being a parent is stressful, but when you have a long line of kids waiting to sit on your lap it can be a bit much."
Sue also tries not to be jealous when Santa is hearing secrets from the young mothers of the kids who come to see him.
"There's a few times it has made me mad when I see him over there with some cute gal on his lap," Sue said, while looking over to her very own Santa. "He's got a big ol' grin on his face and I know he's just loving it, with me seeing him about 20 yards away."
During his nearly 15 years as Santa Claus, Mike Reddish has heard wishes that are hard for anyone to fulfill.
"A few years ago a little girl sat down on my lap, and told me that all she wanted was for her mother to be happy that Christmas," he said.
"It just pulled at my heartstrings to see this little girl being so selfless, when all most kids want is toys."
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