For many in the Texas Retired Teachers Association, Secretary/Treasurer Gary Schepf is known for his service on the Board of Directors. But he also holds another special role in his life: Santa Claus.
Schepf first donned the red suit in 1976 while working at Gibson’s Discount Center, a Texas discount store similar to an early Kmart. When managers asked if anyone would be willing to serve as the store Santa, he volunteered. He was only 21 at the time, still a college student, and he jokes that his face was “too young to be Santa,” but he stepped into the job and discovered he enjoyed it.
Soon it became something he and his mother, Almarie Schepf, did together. The store needed a photographer, and she had experience from earlier in her life. Almarie would wear a Mrs. Claus outfit, and, using a brand-new Polaroid Pronto camera, she captured hundreds of family photos. According to Gary Schepf, she had a special ability to get babies to look directly at the lens. Their teamwork made them have a familiar holiday presence, even landing them on the front page of the local newspaper.
When Schepf became a teacher, he continued playing Santa during the holidays. Over time, he met families who returned year after year just to see him. He recalls one especially memorable child who moved away but continued to visit annually for a photo with “her” Santa. He also remembers the reaction of his own students, who were stunned when Santa greeted them by name as they walked through the store.
For Schepf, the key to being a good Santa has always been simple: make eye contact, listen carefully, and avoid promising specific gifts. He remembers parents standing close by to hear what their children requested so they could plan accordingly.
His experiences as Santa have taken him to a variety of events and venues over the years, from family gatherings to a sister-city celebration for visitors from Espoo, Finland. Most recently, he appeared as Santa at TRTA’s 2024 District Presidents Leadership Conference “Christmas in July” event, surprising attendees by stepping out and returning in full costume.
Schepf still has the Santa suit his mother made – complete with matching velvet and fur – and although he’s called on less often these days, he says the memories remain special. “It was a fun thing to do,” he says. “And it still is.”
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