Local folks may know him as Santa Claus. He’s been Santa for the City of Winnfield for the past six years (and had worked in that role here in the past before moving away). With his own red suit and his home-grown white beard, he’s a natural.
But there’s more to Bill Thompson than “Ho, ho, ho” and Christmas candy, the Rotary Club of Winnfield discovered when Thompson gave an engaging and entertaining presentation he might have entitled, “The Many Hats of Bill Thompson.”
Born in Mississippi, he was moved to Union Parish at such a young age that he claims that as his native parish and is where he grew up. He told members that he received his degree in Pulpwood Hauling and spent 35 years as a Medical Legal Forensic Death Investigator.
While working in north Louisiana, he married Lisa who was from Montgomery and she convinced him they ought to move here. Unfortunately, she died young, leaving him with an 18-month son. While here, he launched chapters of Sons of Confederate Veterans in Winn and Jackson parishes. He was very involved with full-uniform Civil War reenactments. (Hold that point for later in the story).
In Winnfield, he met and married Denise Verret and they remained here until her death. Because of his knowledge of the Confederacy, Thompson got the opportunity to work as a guide at Beauvoir in Biloxi, the last home of Jefferson Davis. There he would conduct seven tours a day throughout the week, “going heavy on the Southern charm when the guests came from north of the Mason-Dixon Line.”
He then met a “California girl,” Noelani, and “I moved her to Mississippi then we came home to Winnfield.” When they married, she became “Mrs. Claus” and they served as a team for the first time this past Christmas. He’s put in a request to the City Council to provide a new Santa House to replace the aged and dilapidated one that has serviced the city for years.
He joked that when he rides in a fire truck in parades, perhaps instead of being named “Ladder 1,” it should be “Red One.” Now home is not the North Pole. “My house is in Winnfield.”
Back to the war re-enactments, Thompson was with a group just finishing a re-enactment when they heard the movie Gettysburg was seeking re-enactors. They got some parts and the concept stuck. “I’m a member of the North Louisiana Film Association.” He’s been in films, TV shows, commercials and photo shoots.” Productions include Gettysburg, Goodbye Cleveland and Leverage Redemption.
As he entertained with some of the behind-the-scene action, he explained, “You get to meet people, hear some great performances…and get paid for it.” He said they can arrive for an assignment, not even knowing the movie situation until they’re on the set. They are sent to Makeup in nice, crisp shirts where they hear, “Make them dirty.” Makeup does just that, only to hear, “dirtier.”