Zimmerman - Fred
by Lori Poteet - The Paper of Montgomery County
Well,
last week I predicted that Crawfordsville boys’ basketball would beat
Lebanon okay so I said by double digits and they game the fans a great
two point win to enjoy instead. Either way, they beat evil Lebanon so it
was a good thing.
I also said that it would that one of the hardest parts of my job is to leave one great game to go to another game. However, I was also excited to see how the North/South game would play out. One of the other best things about my job is meeting and getting a chance to talk with people, which is what happened once I got to South. It was close to half when I arrived. I sat down at the end of the court and a very nice gentleman started up a conversation with me. His name was Fred Zimmerman. He has been a south supporter for many years. As the Southmont Mountie mascot posed with little kids for pictures during halftime. Zimmerman pointed to the mascot and said, “I’m sure you were not around here at the time but I was the Southmont Chicken at games.” I sat there for a second and thought the Chicken? How on Earth does that work with the Mountie mascot? So I, of course, asked why a Southmont chicken? He said it was similar to the San Diego Chicken that was so popular. He said he was able to wear the chicken costume and act crazy. Most people did not know it was him so it did not matter how much of a fool he made of himself it was all about getting the crowd to go wild.
That brought back a great memory of my grandfather taking me to an Indianapolis Indians game to see the famous San Diego Chicken. I so wanted the chicken’s autograph that we stood in line for an hour after the game to get his photo and autograph. I don’t know what I was expecting with the autograph but was disappointed when all he wrote on the black and white photo was “The Chicken” and my grandfather said, “well what do you want him to sign? Santa Claus’ name instead?” Either way, it was a lot of fun to see The Chicken and I have no doubt that Zimmerman also made going to Southmont games a lot of fun and gave people something to remember back when he was the Chicken!
Ironically as we approach the Christmas season the man I was chatting with is perhaps best known as Santa. Many of you, I’m sure have memories of him as “The Crawfordsville Santa” he retired after last Christmas. He served as Santa for 43 years. It was quite apparent that Mr. Zimmerman was well-liked and respected as people stopped by to talk to him throughout the game. I asked him if he missed being Santa, and he quietly said, “Yes, I miss it a lot.” Physically he just decided that it was time to let someone else take over the job.
Now maybe it’s just a coincidence, but Santa AKA Fred Zimmerman has been at the South games. The Mounties are off to an impressive 4-0 start. So I wonder South Basketball do you believe in Santa?
I know Zimmerman said he retired as Santa but if you see him courtside with a long scroll, I’d just assume he is checking his list and maybe be extra good the next couple of weeks. We are just 19 days away until Christmas!
I also said that it would that one of the hardest parts of my job is to leave one great game to go to another game. However, I was also excited to see how the North/South game would play out. One of the other best things about my job is meeting and getting a chance to talk with people, which is what happened once I got to South. It was close to half when I arrived. I sat down at the end of the court and a very nice gentleman started up a conversation with me. His name was Fred Zimmerman. He has been a south supporter for many years. As the Southmont Mountie mascot posed with little kids for pictures during halftime. Zimmerman pointed to the mascot and said, “I’m sure you were not around here at the time but I was the Southmont Chicken at games.” I sat there for a second and thought the Chicken? How on Earth does that work with the Mountie mascot? So I, of course, asked why a Southmont chicken? He said it was similar to the San Diego Chicken that was so popular. He said he was able to wear the chicken costume and act crazy. Most people did not know it was him so it did not matter how much of a fool he made of himself it was all about getting the crowd to go wild.
That brought back a great memory of my grandfather taking me to an Indianapolis Indians game to see the famous San Diego Chicken. I so wanted the chicken’s autograph that we stood in line for an hour after the game to get his photo and autograph. I don’t know what I was expecting with the autograph but was disappointed when all he wrote on the black and white photo was “The Chicken” and my grandfather said, “well what do you want him to sign? Santa Claus’ name instead?” Either way, it was a lot of fun to see The Chicken and I have no doubt that Zimmerman also made going to Southmont games a lot of fun and gave people something to remember back when he was the Chicken!
Ironically as we approach the Christmas season the man I was chatting with is perhaps best known as Santa. Many of you, I’m sure have memories of him as “The Crawfordsville Santa” he retired after last Christmas. He served as Santa for 43 years. It was quite apparent that Mr. Zimmerman was well-liked and respected as people stopped by to talk to him throughout the game. I asked him if he missed being Santa, and he quietly said, “Yes, I miss it a lot.” Physically he just decided that it was time to let someone else take over the job.
Now maybe it’s just a coincidence, but Santa AKA Fred Zimmerman has been at the South games. The Mounties are off to an impressive 4-0 start. So I wonder South Basketball do you believe in Santa?
I know Zimmerman said he retired as Santa but if you see him courtside with a long scroll, I’d just assume he is checking his list and maybe be extra good the next couple of weeks. We are just 19 days away until Christmas!
By Karen Zach, Around the County
Wednesday, November 04, 2015 12:48 AM
Fred Zimmerman is retiring from Santaship.
Fred Zimmerman is retiring from Santaship.
Anyone know the real Santa Claus? I do and I can prove it! Remember the age, 4,5,6,7…65, when you learned from “someone wise” that Santa doesn’t exist?
Well, our son, Jay, had just turned six and was wishy-washy about S.C. Enter the man himself who strolls in through our front door, calling out all our names. Everyone sat on his lap, even me, with smelly perm curlers in my hair. Eyes were wide open from both the maybe-believer, Jay, and the full-steam ahead, that’s the real guy fan, Suzie.
Besides an appreciated sack of candy, the kids received a special Christmas present, hand-made by Mrs. Claus, that had their very own pictures on it. That helped clinch it – wouldn’t only the real Santa have pictures of everyone? When Santa left, Jay talked a bit then looked outside (Santa had parked on a rise leading up a hill and had only one tail light – well, you can imagine a pitch-black night with a red glow) exclaiming with glee, “Mommy, Mommy, it IS the real Santa. I see Rudolph’s red nose shining!” Don’t know if it was planned but when we all ran to the window, sure enough it gave the impression that Santa was in a sleigh with Rudolph guiding it!
Now, our Santa man always seemed to know what a family needed and if you ever had our real Santa come to your house for Christmas, I’m 100% sure he fit the bill! Throughout the past, he made over 100 visits each year, seeing more than 200 children. Lot of Santying, for sure!
Meet Fred Zimmerman who in life has oh so many qualities of Santa. His rosy cheeks are natural, his eyes are inviting and he has built-in-kindness. Although Fred’s thinner now, for many years, he had Santa’s jovial form, as well. Loved his laugh and smile, too, both perfect!
Not the run-of-the-mill go to the party, hand out candy, make $, go home and have a beer type Santa, Fred in the true spirit of the biggest elf, found ways of spreading extra cheer.
He once had a man who had called to book a party. Later the man called back and told Fred that he wouldn’t be able to have him or have much of anything for Christmas for the kids. Turns out the father had no money as the wife had left him and his three children. Fred went anyway and there was happiness. Santa noticed that the man’s brother was there trying to help make a good Christmas. Very touching. This was one of several reasons Fred went beyond being a party/house-call Santa and became the real one. Santa, Patti (Mrs. Claus) and later daughter, Tami, worked for weeks with gifts Patty made, purchased, or were given to them. With the Walnut Twp Fire Department about 30 years ago, Santa and friends would take names on the first Saturday in December and gifts would be taken to the children in need. The program has changed somewhat and is not connected to the FD, but Patti and Tami headed it up, and at least this year, Tami and daughters Karsyn and Lilli, will continue. It is now also in connection to the Montgomery County Reindeer program.
On occasion, son Bruce helped. Once Fred cut off the ends of his fingers two days before Christmas so Bruce drove him around and helped deliver packages. A little girl asked him what happened to his hand. Fred, thinking he was being funny answered, “Well, I was feeding Rudolph his oats and he bit ‘em off!” The little girl cried and yelled that Rudolph was mean. Not one of Santa’s better moments! Random House has been especially generous. The schools, township trustees and people in general would tell the Claus family of someone who was in need and Fred and Patti would do all they could to help ‘em.
Well, that’s about over, as Santa lost Mrs. Claus recently. They had talked just before her passing that it was time to retire from Santaship. Patti made the kids promise to have a retirement party for Fred, and it is being planned as I write this article. I have no doubt Mrs. Claus will be smiling down on the whole affair, so come talk to Santa Claus on November 14th at 10:00-5:00, Mace Church. Last opportunity folks, and it’ll start out your Christmas season with the real thing!
