CASPER — Don’t call him Old Saint Nick. He’s only 52.
And this version of the man in red from the far north country has done away with the stocking cap for something classier, a top hat and cane. As he prepares for Christmas, he is making special visits around Casper, Douglas, and other destinations up to 125 miles from Casper.
His fun and cheesy promotional video with dancing penguins reveals the reality that he's not just the Jolly Old Elf, he's the “Jolliest Claus.”
This classy Claus’ name is Ticker Lock, a Casper food-truck owner.
“I’ve got a huge heart for kids,” said Lock, who goes from running his Rockin Burgers N Dogs Food Truck during the summer and fall to donning his elaborate Santa outfit for 20 or more appearances during the holiday season. “It’s seeing the kids’ reaction that makes it all worthwhile.”
The Jolliest Claus recently appeared in Douglas for the Mingle & Jingle community Christmas party and lighting of Jackalope Square. He then attended Christmas at the Depot at the city’s railroad museum.
There are home visits on his planner and an appearance at the Boys and Girls Club in Douglas on the horizon.
Becoming the Jolliest Claus happened about four years ago when Lock said a friend from the Main Street Douglas organization called him asking for his food truck to be part of a Cowboy Christmas at the state fairgrounds.
When he was told he needed to buy insurance to be on the grounds, he told the officials at the grounds he already had insurance that was far better than what they were asking him to buy.
They insisted he needed their insurance to participate.
Lock told his friend at Main Street Douglas that his food truck would not be participating at the fairgrounds. She asked him to consider stepping into the role of Santa.
“And that’s how it started,” Lock said. He went to Santa school, did the Cowboy Christmas and never looked back. Since then, he looks forward to the season when he can don his costume and bring some joy into children’s lives.
Professionally trained and insured, the Jolliest Claus spent years in a previous career running a DJ business for weddings and events, and believes his professionalism, humor, and interactions with kids set him apart. He learned quickly about the need for “back stories” for those out-of-the-box questions that come from his young clientele.
The need to be creative and think fast comes naturally to him.
Casper food truck owner Ticker Lock transforms into the “Jolliest Claus,” a top-hatted Santa who entertains kids at events, home visits and parades. He mixes humor, heartfelt moments and faith while keeping his own naughty list. (Courtesy Ticker Lock, aka the Jolliest Claus) 
Casper food truck owner Ticker Lock transforms into the “Jolliest Claus,” a top-hatted Santa who entertains kids at events, home visits and parades. He mixes humor, heartfelt moments and faith while keeping his own naughty list. Here Lock visits his mother in hospice care. (Courtesy Ticker Lock, aka the Jolliest Claus) 
Casper food truck owner Ticker Lock transforms into the “Jolliest Claus,” a top-hatted Santa who entertains kids at events, home visits and parades. He mixes humor, heartfelt moments and faith while keeping his own naughty list. (Courtesy Ticker Lock, aka the Jolliest Claus)
A Creative Mind
“God has blessed me with a very creative mind,” Lock said. His “back story” for the obvious question that arises about where his reindeer are during his pre-Christmas appearances involves a private jet. He tells his young questioners that the reindeer are back at the North Pole and that he takes a private jet to Juneau, Alaska.
“I have another jet that takes me wherever I have to go because Christmas Eve is the only time the FAA will allow me to fly my sleigh,” he said.
But there have been a few times that the questions and requests have hit his heart and challenged his tear ducts. On occasion, a youngster will respond to his question about what he or she wants for Christmas with a request to see their dad.
Lock has to “change gears instantly.” He recalled telling one youngster that her dad loved her. She responded that “he died.”
“I have to tell them that, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know exactly what you are going through,” he said. “Remember he did love you very much.”
Lock said he then gently tries to move the conversation into another direction.
Santa also needs to have a good memory. At his recent gig in Douglas, he saw a girl on Friday night at the Mingle & Jingle who asked for a pony with a “unicorn headband.” The same girl reappeared the next day at the Douglas Railroad Museum, and he thought he recognized her from the night before
“I asked her what would you like for Christmas? I was starting to recognize who she was,” he said. “She says, ‘Well, I told you yesterday.’”
“Yeah, OK, just remind me a little bit.”
“A pony,” she said.
“I said, ‘With a unicorn horn.’”
Casper food truck owner Ticker Lock transforms into the “Jolliest Claus,” a top-hatted Santa who entertains kids at events, home visits and parades. He mixes humor, heartfelt moments and faith while keeping his own naughty list. (Courtesy Ticker Lock, aka the Jolliest Claus) 
Casper food truck owner Ticker Lock transforms into the “Jolliest Claus,” a top-hatted Santa who entertains kids at events, home visits and parades. He mixes humor, heartfelt moments and faith while keeping his own naughty list. (Courtesy Ticker Lock, aka the Jolliest Claus) 
The Jolliest Claus and a young fan pose for season photo at the Douglas Depot. (Courtesy Ticker Lock, aka the Jolliest Claus)
Naughty List
The Jolliest Claus has a “naughty” list for himself. As Santa, he will never do an inappropriate photo, hold a beer or cigarette, swear or be in a home without a parent or legal guardian present. He also does not hold live pets — dealing with Rudolph is apparently taxing enough.
The Jolliest Claus website advises that “Santa loves dogs, but not all dogs love Santa.”
Lock’s wife accompanies him on his rounds, but not as Mrs. Claus. Instead, she chooses the persona of “Tinsel,” his head elf and chauffeur.
Home visits mainly occur as the holiday nears. The Jolliest Claus can do three Christmas Eve visits and go as late as people want. He also can pull off a Christmas morning visit if a family desires.
During the Christmas Eve or near Christmas home visits, the Jolliest Claus typically meets with the parent or grandparents sponsoring the visit ahead of time to learn the names of who will be part of the celebration. He will get the family’s presents to deliver inside his big red bag.
“I knock on the door, and I will be very surprised when the child answers the door,” he said. Santa will then question the child about why he or she is awake. After visiting with everyone for a few minutes he will pull out a scroll that Lock and his dad made that contains the poem, “The Night Before Christmas.”
Santa will assign different adults to read portions of the poem off the scroll and then afterwards hand out presents and pose for family photos if they desire. His gig on Christmas morning involves a very sleepy Santa with milk on the table and cookies in his hand as the kids walk in and find him snoozing.
“They caught Santa Claus because he was so busy last night,” Lock said. “I’m not even supposed to be here; I’m supposed to be in Nebraska.”
Parties Or Weddings
The Jolliest Claus makes himself available for parties as well and is even open to weddings if a couple wants him to make an appearance.
His top hat above his long white hair can come in different colors according to the occasion or what he is sensing for his own fashion statement that day.
“I have a collection of top hats. They’re all leather, with the exception of three,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed top hats, (but) not the obnoxiously large ones.”
As Santa in a parade, Lock said he never just does an appearance sitting as Santa and waving from a float. After the parade, he will seek out the kids for some interactions and try and give them the best the Jolliest Claus has to offer. One of the things he shares wherever he goes is the gift of currency from the North Pole.
The $50 or $100 North Pole bills carry a message of a “Very Merry Christmas” on both sides and a photo of the Jolliest Santa on the front and a North Pole scene on the back.
While he enjoys getting into his role, Lock said he also wants people to know he never forgets the real reason for the season.
“Santa Claus plays a huge part in making a kid’s Christmas,” he said. “But Jesus is the real reason for Christmas.”
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
