Floyd Watson and Santa Dan Kinney
In the early 1960’s I knew I could make a fortune in sales and pursued a career (fewer than six 
months) selling men’s clothes at Innes Department Store in Wichita, Kansas. It was a very boring job and also did not pay as I thought it would.
My short career did make it to the holidays, however, and things picked up a little. The holidays brought Santa Claus to the store. Because of an illness, Santa was a short-timer and management approached me about playing Santa from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Why not? I said “yes,” practiced my “Ho, Ho, Ho,” and made better money being Santa than I had selling clothes.
It was great fun for a couple of days, but ten hours a day with curtain-climbers all over you, some crying, some screaming, and one peeing on Santa got old, but I had fun times telling kids “yes” to everything while parents were in the background shaking their heads “NO.”
Things picked up when I told Floyd Watson about a temporary job at the store, and he hired on. Needless to say, we got paid for having a good time and joking around – a lot!
We did take time to meet several young mothers and Santa’s helper proved he could excel in that area. With the holidays closing out, so did Santa and his helper, but we did get a picture of another fun episode during our pre-professional careers.
Below: A recent photo of Dan at Christmas time
Dan also wrote about a Santa adventure in High school with other Merry Pranksters from the Class of 1960. Click on the link below.
Ron Haun recounted his many moves with the Christmas card showing Floyd Watson on Santa Danny’s lap at Innes.
Well, this is hilarious! Had I known about your special role, I could have organized a lot of classmates taking turns on your lap!
Marilyn, Diane, and Fred have certainly unearthed some notable and/or humorous facts about our classmates. I am really enjoying this website!
Fred received that Christmas card photo and persuaded Dan Kinney to write the story. As long as classmates keep sending the sugar plums, we will continue publishing! Many thanks to you, Janice, for the stories you continue to provide!