Thomas Nathan Doan was Punchasing Agent/Santa Claus in Bay City Board of Education.
3,4 Nathan was born in the house at 709 N. Dewitt, Minnie Telfer's house. The family moved to 107 E. Clara when Nathan was 2 years old. That house was originally part of the larger Simm's house before it was split into three parts located at 107 E. Clara, 600 Wenona, 604 N. Dewitt (Dave Stark's house). His mother died in 1931, his father in 1934. He and his siblings were orphans by the time he was 15 years old The Doan family lost the house at 107 E. Clara and went to live with various relatives for a while. Before they moved, the city had shut off the water to a slow drip - just enough to fill the toilet if left long enough. Nathan and his siblings eventually lived at Grandpa Stark's House, 600 N. Dewitt, which had a barn out back, a pig, geese, chickens, a cow, and several fruit trees. One of his jobs was to walk the cow down to Sharon's Field (NW corner of N. Henry and N. Union) in the morning, stake it there for the day, and then retrieve it in the evening. Grandpa Stark would milk the cow. Most of the year, Nathan would deliver milk to three families on his way to school every morning. On cold mornings, he would have to be quick to deliver the milk before the cream froze and raised over the lid of the bottle. He worked long hours and frequently came home late, throwing his clothes on the floor. This practice got he and his belongings thrown out of the house. It was only after his sister pleaded with Pa Stark, that Nathan was allowed to return. Priscilla had promised to always pick up Nathan's things and keep them neat Grandma Stark died in 1935, Grandpa Stark in 1936 Life wasn't always easy Nathan was a graduate of Bay City High School, Jan. 1936 where he played drums and baritone in the band. He went to work for the Bay City Board of Education on 2 Feb. 1936, retiring from there in 1984 after 45 years (not counting his years in the Army). He started out as mimeograph operator and became warehouse supervisor in 1952. Nathan served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He entered service 23 Aug. 1943. His MOS. was classification specialist. He was in San Francisco, Calif. the day his first nephew, Wm. Gaus, Jr., was born, but left on a ship headed to New Guinea that next day. He then went to Australia. He rose through the ranks from a private to master sergeant in 2.5 years. For a man with no particular technical, academic, or combat skills of value to the military, this feat is remarkable, and speaks to his ability to work hard and deal with people effectively. He went to the Philippines on the ship British Columbia Express, also on board was the wife and son of Gen. Douglas McArthur in April of 1945. His career as Santa Claus started in 1940-41 when the church's regular Santa, Uncle Dave Stark, got sick. Nathan was asked to fill in because he was the only one in church with a big belly to fit the suit. Knowing all the names of the church children and Sunday School teachers, Nathan had a good time. The next year he did a bridge club Christmas party. One of the women at the party was PTA president at Wenona School. She arranged for Nathan to be Santa for her school. Nathan knew the principal there, who arranged for all of the children to place their school work out on their desk. These papers had the names of the children on them so that `Santa' was able to go up and down the rows, calling each child by his/her name - much to everyone's amazement. People who were there still wonder how this feat was accomplished. In 1953, Millard Reader, a retailer and member of the church congregation, gave Nathan information about the Santa Claus School at Albion, New York. Nate graduated from the school in 1953, bought a suit for $75, hair for $50 and became the talk of the town as Santa Claus. This reputation has lasted all of his life. He has been called the good will ambassador of Bay City, and even had a park named after him. An article in the Bay City Times claimed that he could have run for mayor, a job that was quite controversial at the time, and won over all other comers. He has been Santa Claus in many states of the U.S. and in Australia (Father Christmas). He has appeared in feature articles in The Saturday Evening Post Dec. 12 1964, Life Magazine, 1964, in Contact Magazine, Oct 1982 and again Dec. 1969, in Friends Magazine (Chevrolet Co., Dec. 1971, in Chronicle (Metropolitan Life) Winter, 1966, and The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine Dec 20, 1992. Nathan and Mary Ida took over the Santa Claus School At Albion New York, established by the famous Macy's Santa of 35 years, Mr. Charles Howard, moving it to Bay City, Michigan and later to Midland, Michigan. They have taught hundreds of students in the science of `The Anatomy of a Raindeer', `The Philosophy of Christmas', `Proper Costuming and Makeup', and a thousand different ways to make believers out of those who doubt Santa Claus. Of the many stories of Santa's believers, two stand out. The first is of a young boy living in the country out near the Tri City Airport. On the night of his pre-Christmas visit to the home, Nate and his driver parked down the road a bit so as to disguise the mode of transportation, and walked up to the door in the dark. The boy was delighted, amazed, and curious about how Santa had arrived, to which questions; the standard answers were given. As Santa left the house, the boy watched as Santa walked across the field and disappeared into the darkness. As an airplane departed the nearby airport, with its red light flashing, the boy just knew that he was watching Santa's sleigh leaping into the sky with Rudolph leading the way. Another is a story of a young family, which lived through the yard from the Gauses. The family was finishing supper, with the youngest balking at finishing the food on his plate. The interaction between parent and child could be seen and heard from outside the back door, which led to the kitchen. In anticipation of Santa's visit, the parent reminded the child that Santa knows and watches all that the child does. Santa checks up on these things. This argument was lost on the child who didn't really perceive it as a threat. Suddenly, there was a jingling of sleigh bells, a hardy HO HO HO and a loud knock on the door. The family turned to see the face of Santa Claus framed in the window of the door. The boy's eyes grew very large as the parent got up to let Santa into the house. As Santa was being greeted, the food on the plate was being cleaned as if by a vacuum sweeper During the visit, Santa asked the boy if he believed that Santa knew when little children weren't minding their parents. The boy vehemently answered in the affirmative, and that he would finish his plate and mind his parents from now on Still another involves State Representative Howard Wetters Jr. whose father had broken both of his legs while decorating a tree at the family church. "I was 8 years old, and I was really doubting Santa Claus". Howard crawled up on Santa's lap, and before Howard could say anything, Santa said, "Howie, how's your dad's legs? I'm sure he is going to be OK". Mr. Wetters says, "I still believe in the magic of Santa Claus today because of Nate Doan. He was truly a great, wonderful guy". Nathan operated a concession at Wenona Beach for years before it closed. Many of his nieces and nephews spent wonderfully remembered evenings 'working' the booth for tickets and ride favors and often a treat. He was a member of the Bangor - Essexville Volunteer Fire Dept for many years. He served at several big Bay City fires over the years. Nathan has served his church, The Christian Assembly, as Sunday School Superintendent, board member, choir member, and board treasurer. There were "Santas" from all of the United States who came to pay their respects to Nate upon his passing. The presence these people created by their all being in the same place at the same time with their stories of Mary Ida & Nate, and the stories of the personal experiences of each of these Santas was very uplifting and warm. It was such a great memorable, moment in time There is not likely to ever again be a human being with such a perfect blend of the requisite personality, skill, and charisma which so wonderfully represents the Spirit of Christmas and of Santa Claus as does Thomas Nathan Doan. He can leave young and old alike feeling as if they had just experienced something spiritual.
Nathan was Michigan Credit Union Person of the Year, 1991. The energy and drive, love of people and continual optimism of T. Nathan Doan have inspired family member and friend alike, making him a very special, favorite person.