Secret Santa Has Been to Town

By Joanna Miller in News on Nov 30, 2006 8:21PM

Is it just us, or can Santa be a little creepy? We obviously weren’t the only kid who didn’t want to sit on some old, strange dude’s lap. Especially when Santa was drunk.

But we now have a little faith in Santa-kind after hearing about one from Missouri who spent yesterday in Chicago spreading good cheer. And by good cheer, we mean $100 bills.

Known as Secret Santa, Larry Stewart, 58, has handed out thousands of dollars to needy strangers over the last 26 years. At first, he gave out $5 and $10 bills, but increased his giving after making millions in the cable TV and long-distance phone service industries.

He was in Chicago yesterday to hand out $100 bills and talk about late Negro Leagues player Buck O’Neil, a Kansas City icon who used to travel with Stewart.

Secret Santa estimates that he has given out about $1.3 million over the years.

Call us sentimental, but we'll take Good Santa over Bad Santa any day.

Santa Claus is coming to town! Via *eclaire.