Biker Santa draws looks
By JILL ZAREND-KUBATKO, Valley Life Editor December 13, 2005 - zwire.com

Just who is the man behind the red furry suit?

Is he some elf that came down from the foothills? Is it the real Santa Claus taking a winter break before his big day of delivery?

Or, is it a 63-year-old retired carny just having some fun?

"I like to give people the attention," said John Wallis, who doesn't mind a bit of the spotlight himself.

As he drives through Casa Grande and elsewhere, horns honk, people begin hollering "Santa, I've been good!" or "Hey Santa, are you making a list?" The bespectacled cherub fellow smiles and says, "I love it. I love it. I get it all the time!"

Wallis said he has always loved Christmas. Several years ago he spotted a bicycle decorated with tinsel and lights. He thought to himself "I can do better than that."

He cut and sewed red and white faux fur material to fit his 1998 GoldWing motorcycle and added nearly 200 sparkling lights to blue and green tinsel attached to the "motorized-sleigh."

....

"I wasted about 25 to 30 yards doing the bottom part of the bike. It was the hardest part," said the sewing Santa.

Through the years he continues to add more decorations and has fireproofed the material around the tailpipe. Wallis also hooked up a big air horn. "People can hear it a mile away," he said, grinning.

So began his crusade to put smiles upon the faces of the people around him.

From Thanksgiving through the first week in January for the past 11 years, Wallis has driven townsfolk to wonder who the white-haired, bearded man is. His Santa suit fits snug and it's all him.

He rides in the annual motorcycle toy drive and visits various businesses and organizations playing the part of the jolly St. Nick.

Wallis worked for carnivals beginning in 1957, owning his own concession, the High Striker - where for money or a ticket patrons can pick up a large hammer-like mallet and see how strong they are by dinging the bell at the top.

He traveled all over the country but mostly in Illinois, Alabama, Florida, Wisconsin, Arizona and Colorado.
He retired two years ago and spends a lot of time at the Dorothy Powell Senior Adult Center. On Dec. 23 he will play Santa for the ladies at the senior center. "They'll sit on my lap," he joked.

He also is scheduled to have photos taken with children this holiday season.

"I love to do things for kids as much as I possibly can," he said.

The attention he has drawn got him a spot on Channel 3-TV News a few years back, he said.

His wife, Donna, sometimes plays Mrs. Claus and is decked out in her own version of the red and white costume.

When not cruising around as Santa, Wallis collects DVDs and watches movies of a bygone era.

He said he loves old mysteries, television shows and comedies. Although this time of year he dusts off the Christmas classics: "Miracle on 34th Street," "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman," "A Walton Family Christmas" and Lawrence Welk Christmas shows.

The mystery of the man with the white hair and red suit is solved.