STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Kagen Albright was a little suspicious of his grandfather when he was little.
And, he says, it was weird going to friends’ homes and seeing them in pictures with his grandfather.
That’s what happens when your grandfather fills in for Santa Claus.
Albright’s grandfather—Jack Williams—was feted Friday night by the City of Ketchum as the Grand Marshal of the 2018 Wagon Days Parade.
Dozens of people—many of whom sat on his lap as a youngster—turned out to get up-to-date pictures with him, while noshing on wood-fired pizza served up by the Ketchum Grill and beer and wine.
“I am humbled by this community. Such a wonderful community,” said Williams.
Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw did a jig to “Jingle Bell Rock” with Williams as he extolled the man’s gracious spirit, which he noted lasts year round, rather than just during the month of Christmas.
And the city served up milk and a plate of cookies for Williams—the first time it’s ever done that for a grand marshal.
Keith and Paula Perry recounted how they’ve often had Williams play Santa for their restaurant employees, many of whom now have children of their own.
The Perrys also used to hold a Christmas party at their home when their two children were younger, timing its end so that a fire truck swung by to pick up Santa to take him to the Ketchum Christmas tree lighting.
“The kids would get so excited to see the fire truck roll up, its lights going round and round,” Keith Perry said.
With Santa living in the community, it was always only a matter of time before the kids would see him in street clothes.
“I remember one time we were filling up at a gas station and Jack was there wearing jeans and a denim jacket,” Keith Perry recalled. “My daughter Courtney whispered, ‘Dad, I think that’s Santa, and he’s dressed just like us.’ “