In case you are unaware of it, Santa died in 1930 in Mesa, Arizona. I know many of you are aware of the famous editorial, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause," but are you aware of the Mesa Tribune editor who actually killed Santa Clause. This is an almost forgotten, sad part of Arizona history. It is also a true story.
In 1930, Mesa was a little town. In order to get more people from other parts of Arizona to come to Mesa for their parade (and to get them to spend more on tourism) a Mesa Tribune editor named John McPhee, decided he would have a parachuting Santa. He advertised that for their pre-Christmas parade they would have Santa jump from a plane, parachute down, and then join the parade in a vehicle. The plan was flawless. He hired a man to do the job. The problem is, the man who was hired to be the parachuting Santa was a bit of a drinker. He had a few too many and was unable to make it. Not to be daunted by this, Mr. McPhee came to a quick decision. He would have a Santa dummy thrown from the plane with a shoot rigged to open. As soon as it landed it would be hidden, and he would emerge as the Santa. Good idea John McPhee! What a hero he would be....or would have been if the shoot had opened as planned. Unfortunately the shoot failed to open and all the men, women, and children watched in horror as Santa fell from the plane...and died on impact.
So now you know the story of how Santa died. It is sad and tragic, but a story worth telling none the less. A true part of Arizona history.
