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Christmas is a time for looking back on fond memories.

Recently, Rob Tolbert, Pappy Tolbert’s oldest grandson, shared memories of his youth in Troy at Christmas time.

The Messenger thanks Rob for sharing his memories and invites others to share their Christmas stories of times past.

“As we are entering the Christmas season, I was remembering things from my youth in Troy,” Tolbert said. “It has been quite a while since Grandad had me sing ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ live on the radio at WTBF.  I don’t consider myself “old” but I’m getting’ there. Stories not told are stories lost.

Around 1969-1970 Troy gained a brand-new shopping center located off George Wallace Drive near Highway 231.

Just after Thanksgiving in one of the first years the plaza was open, the word around Troy was that Santa was going to make a stop at the  Winn Dixie parking lot.

“I was still not too keen on being close to Santa as I was recovering from earlier childhood terror of sitting on Santa’s lap and screaming in the upper atrium of Normandale Mall in Montgomery, Tolbert said. But, I really did like Christmas and presents so, Santa’s visit at Winn Dixie was going to be a treat.”

Pappy Tolbert on WTBF also promoted Santa’s visit so there was going to be quite a crowd.

Having gone with Mom and Grandmom many times to shop at Ingram’s Curb Market, IGA and Piggly Wiggly, Tolbert said the new shopping center was exciting for a small town like Troy. 

“On the day of the event, Mom took me up to the store parking lot, which seemed absolutely huge to me at that age.  She parked our dark green Ford Galaxy sedan and we stood at the edge of a large roped-off square section of the parking lot with many other people.  After a while, a helicopter came flying over. It was one of the ‘M.A.S.H.’ type helicopters with the big round bubble windscreen

“And there was Santa, in the passenger seat as the helicopter hovered and landed inside the roped-off area.  I had never seen a helicopter up close before so the whole event was quite an experience.  I don’t recall any gifts being handed out, but I think Santa tossed candy to the crowd as he walked the rope line and waved to everyone. Santa loudly proclaimed that he came directly from the North Pole. Maybe so, but the skeptical little boy in me thought, there’s no ice or snow on that helicopter, and the pilot isn’t dressed very warm.  I concluded in childhood awed fascination that Santa  probably came all – the – way from the Troy airport  – very far away!

“Each time I see Santa in a parade or at a shopping mall, I think back to my “Santa in the Sky” memories and smile.