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Santa' begins off-season with a visit to his barber

By LIANE SMITH (Contact)

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

After growing his beard and hair out for six months, a Bonita Springs Santa Claus, also known as J.T. Wilson, has gotten a shave and a haircut in preparation for stepping out of his Santa suit and into his year-long suit as an advisory board member for the Florida Blood Bank.

Photo by LIANE SMITH / Banner

As children gleam with after Christmas joy, local Santa Claus, J.T. Wilson, gets his haircut and beard trimmed at Keith's Captain's Chair in San Carlos Park.

Wilson first thought about becoming Santa Claus during the season when he was on a cruise in November 2005. A fellow passenger, from Lehigh Acres, told Wilson he would make a good Santa Claus, and gave him pointers on what to do.

In late June of 2006, Wilson, 56, went to his barbershop, Keith's Captain's Chair in San Carlos Park, for one last haircut and beard trim before growing it out for Christmas.

"This is the last time you'll cut it this year," Wilson recalled telling owner Keith Zygand.

Throughout the holiday, Wilson played Santa Claus at churches, restaurants and private parties. He didn't charge people for his Santa Claus duties, he said, but he did accept donations people gave to help in the costs of his expensive velvet suits.

He even went back to Villa Rica, Ga., where he and his wife are part-time residents, dressed in his suit to go to his church, Westside Baptist. Originally, Wilson is from North Carolina.

"Betcha didn't know Santa's a snowbird," someone from the barbershop quipped.

According to the first-time Santa Claus, he wasn't aware until this year what a wide variety of toys were on the market.

Photo by LIANE SMITH / Banner

Off goes Santa's beard, at least until June, when he'll let it grow for Christmas 2007.

"I didn't realize how many different toys and games (there were) I never heard of," Wilson said.

The most popular? Nintendo DS — although Wilson admitted he wasn't all too sure what kind of game it was.

At an employee party at the Olive Garden, one little girl wanted to sit by Santa Claus all night, Wilson said. Then, after she left, her mother came back and said her daughter wanted to give Santa Claus more hugs and kisses so that she would receive more presents for Christmas.

"Everybody loves Santa — kids and grownups," Zygand said as he snipped away at Santa's beard.

At the airport in Atlanta, even the security personnel shouted out their Christmas wish lists, Wilson said.

"I need a car. Will you remodel my home?" Wilson recalled hearing.

One child came up to him and said: "I wanted to thank you for what you got me for Christmas."

According to Wilson, the Bible advises to "give" more times than "receive," and he takes that message to heart.

That's one reason why he is on the advisory board for the Florida Blood Bank.

Photo by LIANE SMITH / Banner

Owner of Keith's Captain's Chair, Keith Zygand, asks Santa how much he'd like taken off.

"It's always been a joy to me to help people," Wilson said.

"You can live without an arm, or a leg... but one thing you can't live without is blood," he added.

In Southwest Florida, Wilson said there is a need for larger blood supplies because of all of the knee and hip replacements performed.

Every 56 days, a person can donate blood. According to Wilson, everyone has something they have to remember to do about every 60 days — change their oil; get their haircut; or pay a maintenance fee.

"If people would realize how short the blood supply is," Wilson said, perhaps they could remember to donate every few months.

Photo by LIANE SMITH / Banner

J.T. Wilson, back to himself, as an advisory board member for the Florida Blood Bank.

"If every person was just like me, what kind of blood drive would this be?" Wilson added.

As Santa Claus transformed back Friday into J.T. Wilson, short-haired and with a nicely trimmed beard, he hopped out of his chair ready to put on his Florida Blood Bank T-shirt.

"I've been to a couple other barbershops," Wilson said. "This one is home, so to speak."

The Zygands refused to accept payment for Santa's new do, and Audrey Zygand, Keith's wife, said after hearing about all the good things Wilson does, she didn't feel right about charging Santa Claus.

"Just give it to the blood drive," Audrey Zygand said.

The Florida Blood Bank will be holding a blood drive on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Corkscrew Woodlands Clubhouse, off Corkscrew Road in Estero. For more information, call 948-2615.

"I reckon, as long as I'm able, I'm going to do something to help," Wilson said.