For children, Santa Claus is the embodiment of magic and delight, and Randy Campbell is dedicated to preserving that enchantment.
Campbell, who works as a zone manager at the University of Virginia’s Facilities Management, has been donning the Santa suit since 2012. He makes appearances at Rockfish Elementary School’s annual Breakfast with Santa, school story sessions, and even some home visits.
His Santa journey began unexpectedly at Rockfish Elementary, where his wife holds a behavioral specialist position. Initially, he used a synthetic beard over his own for the role.
“It was just a Saturday morning, for an hour or two, and they gave me a fake beard that I wore over my own beard,” Campbell explained. “With about 100 kids, I was there for a couple hours. I got lethargic because I was asphyxiating myself trying to breathe through that thing.”
The following year, a different false beard proved equally uncomfortable. Campbell’s daughter then suggested bleaching his real beard, which was effective but harsh on his hair.
“After I did several events, I shaved completely bare to get rid of that old, broken, damaged hair, and I usually keep it shaved pretty close or just barely a beard all year until August, and then I start growing it out, and I don’t get a haircut,” he noted.
Even as his beard became more authentic, Campbell’s appearance changed as he lost weight.
“I’ve lost 140 pounds,” he shared. “I weigh 190 pounds now. I’ve got four suits because as I have dropped weight. I’ve had to fit into smaller suits. I haven’t put any padding in yet, though people have requested me to, but I’ve bought a suit again this year that’s slim. I don’t know that kids really worry about whether Santa’s fat or not.”
Among his collection of Santa suits, the crowd favorite is inspired by the Haddon Sundblom illustrations for Coca-Cola’s Christmas ads since 1931.
“They all want that,” Campbell laughed. “I still have that suit, but it hangs on me like a tent. I would have to put padding on.”
Keeping his Santa identity a secret is a challenge for Campbell, who is a father of four and grandfather to eight.
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