“Santa” Bob McGraw Brings Smiles in the Bay

Good Neighbor - December 2025

You weren't seeing things; that really was Santa driving by in the red antique pickup truck!

- Story by Maurice Singleton

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​“Santa Claus is coming….” No wait, he’s here! He’s in Bay St. Louis! I saw him! He was at a coffee shop in downtown Bay St. Louis!
 
I’m not a serious coffee drinker, but when I saw Santa drive up to a local coffee shop in his “Santa mobile,” I got a little thrill. I pulled into the parking lot, following him from a safe distance to avoid stalking claims, and waited until he climbed out of his classic, red Chevrolet.
 

 
He wasn’t wearing his official Santa Christmas getup; he was dressed like Santa on a workday before Christmas, wearing khaki cargo pants, a burgundy shirt with a green sweater vest, and of course, a long, red stocking cap over his flowing grey locks.
 
I heard him order his coffee, which made me wonder, “Why does everybody say feed him milk and cookies?”
 
I ordered a hot chocolate and then subtly, or so I thought, followed Santa to the seating area in the front of the coffee shop. Still pretending that I was minding my own business, I hid behind my hot chocolate before he looked me dead in the eyes. Busted! I nearly choked on my hot cocoa as he offered a robust “Good morning!”
 

 
“Morning,” I mumbled, trying to pretend I wasn’t excited at sitting so close to Santa. I finally worked up the nerve to ask if he was visiting the Bay.
 
Santa shocked me when he said he moved here in the spring of 2016. He wanted to be closer to his family, he said, especially after learning he was going to be a grandfather. His sister already lived in Bay St. Louis, and his mom made the move just before he did.
 

 
In 2016, Bob McGraw (Santa) decided to answer the call to be Santa. “I have always been fascinated by the character,” said Bob. “It’s something that gets people to smile. It’s a net positive. People seem to respond to it in a good way.”
 
Santa Bob is in his tenth season as Santa in the Bay. “If you’re going to be a big guy and sport a white beard, kids want to ask you for toys anyway,” Santa Bob explained. “You might as well enjoy it.”
 

 
He attended Santa School in Midland, Michigan-- the CWH Santa Claus School named for and started by Charles W. Howard. Howard is most known for his role at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa from 1937 until his death in 1966.
 
“It’s considered the Harvard of Santa Schools,” said Santa Bob. “It was pretty amazing. We had 300 students, mostly Santas, and forty or fifty Mrs. Clauses. They were from all over the world,” Santa Bob recalled. “The official Santa from Norway was there. He was amazing. They looked like gnomes with these little red hats.

“The school teaches all kinds of things,” said Santa Bob. “How to Ho Ho Ho, obviously, how to dress, costuming, and they even teach makeup, which I don’t really need because I have the natural appearance.”

 
The lessons also included hair care, beard care, doing interviews, legal matters, and practical things such as interacting with children.
 
“It’s a great fellowship of guys who are all have similar goals,” said Santa Bob. “It’s like a convention and reunion. We got to ride the train that was the inspiration for Polar Express. That was an amazing experience. It’s one of the largest locomotives ever built.”

Santa Bob gives the reindeer a break during the off season and instead rides around in a red and black 1949 Chevrolet pickup truck. He pays tribute to the hard work of the reindeer with a reindeer hood ornament. Santa Bob had the truck restored in 2019. The red and black paint scheme is not authentic to the original two toned classic, but he doesn’t mind.
​

 
“It’s not quite authentic, but that doesn’t matter,” said Santa Bob. “I use it, part of it is a smile ministry. I ride around town, people see it, and they smile.”
 
Before taking on the role as Santa, Bob was a mathematics teacher for nearly 30 years in Rome, Georgia, midway between Atlanta and Chattanooga. He retired and moved to Bay St. Louis to be closer to his family.
 
Of course, December is a busy time for Santa, especially around Bay St. Louis, where Santa Bob has scheduled stops almost everywhere. Santa can be found at the Hancock County libraries and the Boys and Girls Club, as well as various Christmas events. He and his truck often park and pose for photos around town. Soon, Santa Bob will be re-checking his list and making final preparations for his Christmas deliveries.
 
For more information about Santa Bob in the Bay, visit his website: https://www.santonthebay.com. 

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