WESTLAKE, Ohio -- Les Wheeler, 77, of Wakeman, Ohio, is marking 15 years of bringing Christmas joy to Northeast Ohioans by dressing as Santa Claus for the holidays.

He regularly receives visits from children -- as you might expect -- but also from adults, entire families and even pets.

Wheeler worked for Ford for 34 years and served with the U.S. Army’s 101 st Airborne Division in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970.

After retiring from the Ford plant in Lorain, Wheeler was approached by a friend who remarked on his resemblance to St. Nick.

Wheeler has had a beard for about 48 years. With age, his beard and hair have turned white.

The friend convinced him about 15 years ago to perform as Santa at a Wakeman restaurant he owned.

“It was an old grain elevator, and they were business people and t

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