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Ed Mills, 85, has visited hearing-impaired kids as Santa for 27 years | Gainesville.com
Joshua Kittrell, 10, turned the corner into a room at Norton Elementary School, and his eyes went wide.
"Santa!" he signed to one of his teachers.
He waited patiently for his turn to receive his present — the largest box on the table.
He tore through it to find a Hot Wheels race course set — exactly what he wanted.
It's moments like those that keep Ed Mills, 85, coming back to sign for the children, although age and illness have slowed him down.
Mills, who is deaf, will hang up his red suit for good after 27 years serving as the Pilot Club of Greater Gainesville's signing Santa Claus.
Over the years, he has traded in his sleigh for a bright-red Legend XL motorized scooter.
He easily gets winded.
Too much excitement wears him out.
But he wouldn't miss the hearing-impaired students at Norton for anything, Mills said.
"This is how Santa should feel," he said through a sign language interpreter. "It makes my heart feel good."
Mills plays the part with relish in a costume ordered online.
"Have you been a good boy?" he signs to one child, although the boy is already tugging the box.
He eats a plate of cookies, although he washes it down with punch, not his standard milk.
Mills lost his hearing in his 40s, he said. One morning he woke up to silence.
"You definitely learn who your friends are," he said. "They stop visiting."
Amy McDonald, his daughter, fought back tears as she spoke.
"It's a good feeling, because I know he has a big heart," she said.
Mills feared he wouldn't be able to make it one day and disappoint the children, McDonald said.
That's the only reason he's giving up his long-held post.
Shaine Partington, 9, said she's sad Mills is retiring.
"Santa Claus is getting old," she said.
Opening presents and seeing her family happy is Rachel Powell's favorite part of Christmas, but the visit on Friday comes close.
"It's good to have someone that understands," said Rachel, 9. "I only like one Santa."
Tina Kercheval said the children will be sad to see Mills go.
"When I first started teaching, Ed came to my preschool class and showed me the ‘right way' to sign," she said.
You don't argue with a deaf man, she said.
As the children milled about racing their cars or showing off their jewelry, Mills said, with a glint in his eye, that he still will be around.
"Don't count me out yet," he said.
Joshua Kittrell, 10, turned the corner into a room at Norton Elementary School, and his eyes went wide.
"Santa!" he signed to one of his teachers.
He waited patiently for his turn to receive his present — the largest box on the table.
He tore through it to find a Hot Wheels race course set — exactly what he wanted.
It's moments like those that keep Ed Mills, 85, coming back to sign for the children, although age and illness have slowed him down.
Mills, who is deaf, will hang up his red suit for good after 27 years serving as the Pilot Club of Greater Gainesville's signing Santa Claus.
Over the years, he has traded in his sleigh for a bright-red Legend XL motorized scooter.
He easily gets winded.
Too much excitement wears him out.
But he wouldn't miss the hearing-impaired students at Norton for anything, Mills said.
"This is how Santa should feel," he said through a sign language interpreter. "It makes my heart feel good."
Mills plays the part with relish in a costume ordered online.
"Have you been a good boy?" he signs to one child, although the boy is already tugging the box.
He eats a plate of cookies, although he washes it down with punch, not his standard milk.
Mills lost his hearing in his 40s, he said. One morning he woke up to silence.
"You definitely learn who your friends are," he said. "They stop visiting."
Amy McDonald, his daughter, fought back tears as she spoke.
"It's a good feeling, because I know he has a big heart," she said.
Mills feared he wouldn't be able to make it one day and disappoint the children, McDonald said.
That's the only reason he's giving up his long-held post.
Shaine Partington, 9, said she's sad Mills is retiring.
"Santa Claus is getting old," she said.
Opening presents and seeing her family happy is Rachel Powell's favorite part of Christmas, but the visit on Friday comes close.
"It's good to have someone that understands," said Rachel, 9. "I only like one Santa."
Tina Kercheval said the children will be sad to see Mills go.
"When I first started teaching, Ed came to my preschool class and showed me the ‘right way' to sign," she said.
You don't argue with a deaf man, she said.
As the children milled about racing their cars or showing off their jewelry, Mills said, with a glint in his eye, that he still will be around.
"Don't count me out yet," he said.