THE SANTAS
Mel Augustine
Kevin Bernhardt
Brian Berner
Brian Charles
Jay Caldwell
Pete Martin
Paul McDaniel
Jack Schmiedeler
Steve Sperling
Mel Augustine
Hello! I’m Santa Mel Augustine. I am the last Santa to join the Fab Five. You will recognize me as the shortest Santa. I lived in the 600 block of Georgetown Rd. As a joke, I put on an old Santa suit I had at home and headed down to participate in the fun with my four neighbors on the next block. After they had their laughs, they told me to purchase a more modern suit and join them. Being a Santa puts me in the Christmas spirit. I enjoy receiving Christmas lists from the children and visiting with people of all ages. On Christmas Eve, our family tradition is to open gifts, but since I have been Santa Mel, our family spends 7 to 9 pm with friends, neighbors, family and people of all ages. My sons, Andrew and Adam, have helped pop popcorn and my wife, Becky, has directed traffic or refilled Santa’s goodie bag. When I see cars lined up bumper to bumper, I feel like I am doing something worthwhile for the community. I am a machinist and welder at Hoff’s Machine & Welding, Inc.
Kevin Bernhardt
I asked to join the group in 2014 and had so much fun, They all make you fill like family. I started playing Santa about 5 years ago. My wife sews a lot and made both of my suits. My real job is working at Crestwood for the past 11 years and 25+ years at Exide.
Brian Berner
Hello! I’m Santa Brian Berner and I joined in 2018. I had no idea at the time how much fun being a part of the Georgetown Santas could be. In my real life I’m a husband to my wonderful wife, father to two grown boys and the wrangler of four mischievous dogs!
Brian Charles
Hi, I’m Santa Brian Charles and currently work at Great Plains Manufacturing. I have been Santa for a couple years and have seen the Christmas joy that it has brought to family and friends which led me to Georgetown Santas. I started in 2023 on the 25th anniversary and I experienced how the Georgetown Santas brought the community together of all ages. I would like to help continue this Christmas tradition and give back to the community.
Jay Caldwell
Pete Martin
Hello I am Santa Pete. I have been one of the Georgetown Santas since 2001. My son Justin and I, built the Santa Shack saw cut from local red cedar trees. Every Year we cut in fresh cedar wreaths, cut wood for the wood stove and occasionally make it to the local Christmas Parade. Being a part of this tradition really gets you into the Christmas spirit. It is truly a fulfilling experience bringing a little joy and cheer to young and old during this holiday season. From all the Georgetown Santas, have a Merry Christmas
Paul McDaniel
Hi! I’m Santa Paul McDaniel. I was the first Santa to join Santa Jack in 1998 and we became the Georgetown Santas. I saw my neighbor, Santa Jack, having so much fun giving out Christmas candy that I asked him if I could join him. Of course, he said, “Yes.” We started from humble beginnings and now we have grown to five Santas and several helpers. For ten years now, we have weathered the Kansas winters. We now have a terrific Santa Shack to help us keep warm. Christmas is a special time of the year for the McDaniel family and being a Georgetown Santa gives me the opportunity to give back to my community and make a difference. Over the past ten years we have been able to spread a lot of joy and happiness in Salina during Christmas time. My family enjoys helping me get ready for my Georgetown Santa duties. Being a Georgetown Santa is very rewarding. I am so excited that the Georgetown Santas has grown into a tradition for many families in Salina and the surrounding communities. I am looking forward to the upcoming Christmas season and seeing all of the smiling faces. Come join us! For many years I worked for Dillard’s Department Store. Currently, I am enjoying retirement!
Jack Schmiedeler
When I moved to Georgetown Road in 1998 I noticed a lot of traffic at Christmas from sightseers looking at the lights. One of my neighbors mentioned that a few years earlier he had purchased a “Santa Suit” at a local department store. He would don the suit on Christmas and deliver baked goods to the neighbors. That gave me an idea that maybe I could buy a suit and stand out in the street and give away candy to the people looking at the lights. A couple of nights later my neighbor across the street asked if he could join me as it looked like fun. Never did I imagine it would grow to what it is now. Eventually there grew to be five Santa’s and several helpers. Each year we try to make it bigger and better than last year. It is probably more fun for the Santa’s then for the kids. To me this is what Christmas is all about. We all remember our Christmas’s as youth and that is what we hope to obtain by being the Georgetown Santa’s, some great memories for the kids that will last a lifetime. I am a currently enjoying retirement.
Steve Sperling
SANTA EMERITUS
Mike Chaput | 2001-2025
Santa Mike Chaput, one of the original five Georgetown Santas, first donned the red suit in 2001, embarking on a journey that brought immense joy to countless lives.
For Mike, being Santa was more than just a role; it was a profound exchange. He often spoke of how his initial desire to give back to the community was reciprocated by the very people he served. He cherished the gift of experiencing Christmas through their eyes, from the youngest child to the oldest senior citizen. The sight of their smiles and the sound of families’ laughter during the holiday season were joys he treasured deeply.
For the Santas, we miss Mike’s wit, commanding “HO, HO, HO!”, “Bring ‘em on down Jack!”, and his trademark look: The Christmas lights that he wore on the brim of his Santa hat. When he was not bringing Christmas magic as Santa, Mike enjoyed spending time with his family and served as a mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service for 32 years. His commitment to service, both in and out of the Santa suit, left a lasting impact on all who knew him.
Santa Mike Chaput will be dearly missed, but the memories of his kindness, his laughter, and his unwavering Christmas spirit will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of the Georgetown Santas and the Salina community he loved so much.