Join us for our weekly “Rock Reflections,” a series celebrating Trinity alumni. From all 50 states to countries worldwide, our graduates are making an impact, and we'll share their stories on Trinity's website and social media.
This week's profile is about Pat Meehan '70
Trinity alumni are represented in thousands of careers, including a professional Santa Claus, Pat Meehan ’70. He came by his Santa profession honestly; his grandfather was a Santa Claus in North Pole, Colorado, for three years, and his father played Santa at a city Christmas celebration.
Pat enrolled at Trinity in 1966 after graduating from St. Margaret Mary Catholic School. He had family members attend the former Flaget High School, but Trinity was closer to home.
Pat was involved in activities and athletics at Trinity. He participated in wrestling, Pep Club, Science Club, Biology Club and yearbook. He also played football for four years and was a member of Trinity’s first state championship football team in 1968. Additionally, he learned life lessons.
“I didn’t realize at the time, but Trinity gave me a sense of community,” Pat said. “It gave me the desire and need to give back to community. Trinity made me a better person and who I am. It let me know that there are ups and downs in life, and you have to get up and keep going.”
Among Pat’s favorite teachers were Jim Kennedy H’93, Rev. Paul Davin and Rev. Ted Sans H’05. Father Sans was a legendary Trinity Theatre producer, and Pat was a member of the stage crew, constructing sets, managing lighting and other duties.
“I learned so much doing that,” Pat said. “Because of that experience, I went to college at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, and worked on the stage crew for their theater department.
Pat left St. Joseph’s after two years and returned home. He completed his degree at the University of Louisville. Over the years, he worked for the Jefferson County court system, the last 10 years of which were in family court. He also had several jobs in Charlotte and Boston and served in the U.S. Army for three years.
Christmas history
The Christmas Spirit struck in 1979. Pat was home for Thanksgiving after a backpacking trip in Europe. He received a call from a friend of his with the City of Lyndon saying their Santa Claus was ill and couldn’t make an appearance at an event. They asked Pat if he could fill in. He was a natural with his white beard.
The rest is Christmas history. Pat appeared as Santa for family and friends for years. In 1990, after getting married and considering sending three stepsons to Trinity, Pat applied for a part-time job at Mall St. Matthews.
“The lady doing the hiring was looking for a photographer for Santa Claus,” Pat said. “When I showed up, she took a look at me and asked me if I could substitute for their regular Santa. I did that for two years. One day, the guy relieving me told me that if I grew my beard out I’d be a natural for a real-bearded Santa, which is a thing.”
Pat later had an interview with the manager of Oxmoor Centre.
“He told me that my beard wasn’t white enough and asked me if I could come back,” Pat said. “I went and got my beard dyed and returned. I was at Oxmoor for 23 years.”
Following his stint at Oxmoor, Pat worked as a freelance Santa for several organizations and holiday events, including Light Up Lyndon, Light Up St. Matthews, numerous foundations, Home of the Innocents, Kroger, Cabela’s and the Paristown Pointe Fete de Noel. From the first of November to Christmas, Pat estimates he makes 60 to 70 appearances.
The Spirit of Christmas
Children who sat on Pat’s lap eventually brought their own children to see him as Santa.
“One Christmas Eve a lady came in with her husband and their newborn,” Pat said. “Twenty years later, they came back with a strapping young man. I still see people who remember having their photos taken with me at Oxmoor.”
Like many professions, Santa Clauses have their own professional associations. Pat is a member of the International Brotherhood of Real-bearded Santas, the Society of Christmas Performers and the Fraternal Order of Real-bearded Santas. The training is ongoing.
“I do probably twenty to thirty hours per year in training and updating,” Pat said. “There are online and in-person seminars. Last year, I did a one-day seminar that included two hours on how to deal with autistic children.”
There are also conferences. The International Brotherhood of Real-bearded Santas hosts a conference every other year that attracts 800 to 1,000 Santas and Mrs. Clauses.
“I thoroughly enjoy being Santa,” Pat said. “I love seeing the joy and smiles it brings to children. When I was a kid, I asked my mom if there’s a Santa. She said that as long as children believe there will always be a Santa because that’s the spirit of Christmas.”
Pat and his wife, Mary (Angela Merici, 1970), have been married for 35 years and are members of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. They have three stepsons who attended Trinity: Steven ’95, Richard ’97 and David ’99 McCubbins. His stepson Edward McCubbins Jr. attended Holy Cross (1993)
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Do you know a Trinity alumnus with a compelling story? Please reach out to Travis Wagoner '90, Alumni Relations & Communications Director, at 502-736-2122 or wagoner@trinityrocks.com.
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