'Jeopardy!' contestant Adam George proud of his Santa Claus, Indiana heritage

Gordon Engelhardt, Evansville Courier & Press

December 17, 2021 at 6:12 AM·4 min read

Children gather around "Santa Jim" Yellig of Santa Claus, Ind.

Adam George was quick with a Santa Claus anecdote during a recent “Jeopardy!” interlude.

A Brooklyn law clerk, George told the audience his mother (Kristi Koch) lived in Santa Claus, Indiana, his grandmother (Pat Koch) helped write letters back to the children who had written to Saint Nick in care of the Santa Claus, Indiana post office, and commended his great grandfather, Jim Yellig, a celebrated Saint Nick for decades.

“It was very surprising,” said Pat Koch. “He could have said anything.”

George said he was very proud of his heritage with Santa Claus.

"I was happy to mention my great grandfather's work at Santa Claus and grandma's work as one of Santa's elves," he said. "It's unique to have family who work to make Christmas dreams come true, so I was happy to mention it and elevate that message on 'Jeopardy!'''

Pat and her son, Dan, were on a business trip to El Paso, Texas when the "Jeopardy!" episode with her grandson as a contestant aired.

“We went to the bar in our hotel to watch it and it was pre-empted by Opie (the 'Andy Griffith Show’),” Koch said. “Somebody said, ‘You can watch it on your iPad.’’’

So they did. George was the only contestant to correctly answer the final clue: “From 1824 to 1825 this hero toured all 24 states and an Indiana city was named for him.”

The answer was “Marquis de Lafayette.”

However, George did not accumulate enough points to unseat Jonathan Fisher as champion. Koch was back in Santa Claus last week and saw the re-run of her grandson competing on “Jeopardy!”.

"Santa Jim" Yellig works his magic with children.

The Santa of Santa Claus, Indiana

Pat Koch loves retelling the story of how her father became a world-famous Santa Claus.

Yellig, a resident of Mariah Hill, Indiana, was born in 1894. He was serving in the U.S. Navy in 1914 when his life changed forever. Docked in Brooklyn, his USS New York crew decided to have a Christmas party for underprivileged children.

“He was a machinist’s mate,” Koch said. “They needed a Santa Claus and somebody said, ‘Hey, you’re from Santa Claus, Indiana. You do it.’’’

Yellig wore a red jacket and a fake beard, but the kids didn’t mind. Yellig enjoyed their reaction so much that he made a solemn vow.

“He said if he made it through (World War I) alive, he would continue to be Santa Claus,” Koch said. “And that’s what he did.”

Yellig served in the Navy for 17 years. He stayed in Chicago briefly before moving back to Mariah Hill in 1930 to open a restaurant. While Yellig started the Santa Claus American Legion, his daughter founded the Santa Claus Museum & Village.

Pat Koch of Santa Claus, Ind., appears on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show" on NBC.

Koch received the Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana's highest civilian honor, in 2013. Her father was the recipient of the same award on Dec. 25, 2016.

Santa Claus was called Santa Fe until 1856 when it was trying to get a post office. But there was already a town named Santa Fe, Indiana, an unincorporated community in Butler Township, Miami County, which had a post office from 1849 to 1917.

Legend has it that the Spencer County townspeople gathered at a log church to discuss a name. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew open the church’s door. A child exclaimed it was Santa Claus and the town got its new name.

In 1914, postmaster James Martin decided to try to get as many letters written to Saint Nick to be sent to the town of Santa Claus, Indiana. Yellig later lent his services.

He made appearances at Santa’s Candy Castle and Santa Claus Town, the nation’s first themed attraction, in the late 1930s. Yellig took part in American Legion Christmas parades in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles and Philadelphia as his fame grew exponentially.

In 1946, Yellig became the resident Santa at Santa Claus Land, a post he held for 38 years. No other Santa has reportedly ever had as many children visit him in person as "Santa Jim" Yellig.

“He started answering letters in the 1930s,” Koch said. “The rest is history.”

Now, his daughter carries on the legacy every year during the Christmas season.

Koch said that Yellig always had his Santa outfit handy and recalled her father’s last time riding in a parade as Santa, shortly before his death in 1984 at age 90.

Adam George may live in Brooklyn, but he'll never forget the legacy of his great grandfather, Jim Yellig, Santa Claus of Santa Claus, Indiana.

Contact Gordon Engelhardt by email at gordon.engelhardt@courierpress.com and follow him on Twitter @EngGordon.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: 'Jeopardy!' contestant George proud of Santa Claus, Indiana, legacy

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The Santa of Santa Claus, Indiana

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