OPINION: Bill Beeler remembered

Bill Beeler remembered

To the editor:

Tis the season for giving and being thankful, which has got me thinking of one of most caring and giving people I've ever known.

His name was William Beeler, better known as "Santa Claus" to me and most folks around Brazil for the past 60 years.

Bill spent most of his life helping people and volunteering his time, including sitting in Santa's house in Forest Park on hundreds of nights (with no heat) so all the kids could sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Riding in helicopters and on fire engines in parades every year, giving out candy. He would also juggle his time between work and home to make appearances at private get-together's for people around the county, never asking for anything in return, just the smiles on the kids faces was payment enough. Many days he would single handedly hang all of the street decorations with nothing more than a ladder. When you drive through Forest Park and see all the hand painted Christmas Cards, again these were mostly all done by Bill.

There's not enough room here to write down all the kind things he did for the kids and adults of this community. I myself was lucky enough to call Bill my father-in law. At a time when life seems to be more about making money and living fast paced lives, it's nice to take time to remember our families and people like Bill.

If there were more people like Bill Beeler... the world would be a much happier and better place!

Rick Parker

Brazil