2008 Woodie Awards
All eyes on Glen and Sherry Pippen
Laura Prather
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: TruLife
Santa Claus is in town.
La Plata resident Glen Pippen plays the part of Santa at the Adair County Courthouse during the holidays. His wife, Sherry, joins him by adopting the role of Mrs. Claus. Their season starts the day after Thanksgiving and lasts until Christmas day and involves appearances at more than 25 different places in surrounding towns.
The Pippens have dressed up as the famous couple for about 13 years now and said they have become very passionate about it.
"It's the look on [the children's] faces, and for some of them, you can tell there is sheer excitement there," Sherry said.
This is the Pippens' fifth year visiting with kids at the courthouse as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. They also make appearances at the Bank of Kirksville, the A.T. Still Thompson Center and various schools and nursing homes in La Plata, Macon and New Cambria.
Glen said he first was mistaken as Santa when he was eating at a restaurant in Kahoka, Mo., wearing bib overalls and a red sweatshirt.
"This little boy ... come up bailing through the door hollering, 'Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho,' and ran away from his mom and jumped up on my lap and told me what he wanted for Christmas," Glen said. "And his mom came and grabbed him and said, 'No, that ain't Ho, ho,' and the guy that was with me said, 'Yes it is, just leave him alone. He's doing a pretty good job telling him what he wants for Christmas.'"
Since then, Sherry said anywhere she and her husband go, children think he is Santa.
"The kid just thought he was Santa Claus, and they always do," she said.
One time, they were fishing at Truman Lake (ASK LAURA) in the middle of the summer, and a boy confused him for Santa. They said the little boy just kept saying how he couldn't believe Santa goes on vacation.
Sherry made costumes for the both of them, but Glen's didn't fit him the way he wanted. He said his sister ended up making him one out of red car upholstery.
Glen also said he grows out his beard for the role, which really helps him look more authentic to the children. He said he never has had a kid sit on his lap and pull his beard because they know it is real.
La Plata resident Glen Pippen plays the part of Santa at the Adair County Courthouse during the holidays. His wife, Sherry, joins him by adopting the role of Mrs. Claus. Their season starts the day after Thanksgiving and lasts until Christmas day and involves appearances at more than 25 different places in surrounding towns.
The Pippens have dressed up as the famous couple for about 13 years now and said they have become very passionate about it.
"It's the look on [the children's] faces, and for some of them, you can tell there is sheer excitement there," Sherry said.
This is the Pippens' fifth year visiting with kids at the courthouse as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. They also make appearances at the Bank of Kirksville, the A.T. Still Thompson Center and various schools and nursing homes in La Plata, Macon and New Cambria.
Glen said he first was mistaken as Santa when he was eating at a restaurant in Kahoka, Mo., wearing bib overalls and a red sweatshirt.
"This little boy ... come up bailing through the door hollering, 'Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho,' and ran away from his mom and jumped up on my lap and told me what he wanted for Christmas," Glen said. "And his mom came and grabbed him and said, 'No, that ain't Ho, ho,' and the guy that was with me said, 'Yes it is, just leave him alone. He's doing a pretty good job telling him what he wants for Christmas.'"
Since then, Sherry said anywhere she and her husband go, children think he is Santa.
"The kid just thought he was Santa Claus, and they always do," she said.
One time, they were fishing at Truman Lake (ASK LAURA) in the middle of the summer, and a boy confused him for Santa. They said the little boy just kept saying how he couldn't believe Santa goes on vacation.
Sherry made costumes for the both of them, but Glen's didn't fit him the way he wanted. He said his sister ended up making him one out of red car upholstery.
Glen also said he grows out his beard for the role, which really helps him look more authentic to the children. He said he never has had a kid sit on his lap and pull his beard because they know it is real.
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