This 56-foot Santa Claus sat atop the roof of Porter Chevrolet on Mockingbird and was designed by the same man that brought Big Tex to life at the State Fair. But this Santa has a tragic history.
Roy Davis, a 46-year-old man who had been released from the hospital — and told to take it easy — asked his boss at the crane company where he worked to borrow a crane so he could have his picture taken with the giant St. Nick for his Christmas card. The company said yes.
He got his picture with Santa, but as he was being lowered, witnesses say he went limp and fell 35 feet, landing between the boots of the giant Santa, where he died.
Now, all that remains of the dealership is a parking lot for Campisi’s.
This article was originally published by Will Maddox in the 2017 December issue of the Advocate.
