Ball Ground's 'Santa Tim' Publishes Memoir

BALL GROUND, GA -- A Ball Ground resident is sharing his stories of portraying Santa Claus over four decade with readers who are looking for a little holiday inspiration and joy. "Recollections of My Life as Santa Claus and Other Magical Adventures" recounts Tim Cavender's journey, from bringing smiles to the faces of children and adults alike over the years to his induction into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame.

The public will have a chance to greet Cavender and learn more about his memoir during a book signing set for 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Ball Ground Public Library.

In the just-released book, Cavender, the spokesperson for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services, shares his early beginnings as Santa and also recounts some of the magical adventures of his youth during the Christmas holidays. He also shares some of his favorite visits with children over the past four decades while playing the Jolly Old Elf. This includes the 2009 story involving Santa making a little girl's wish come true when he brought her dad, an American soldier serving in Afghanistan, home for Christmas.

The story appeared on CNN and was their leading feature at the time. Tim has also appeared as Santa Claus in videos developed for Gannett, on numerous television stations nationwide and USA Today's website. Along with his wife Pam, who portrays Mrs. Claus, Tim has presided over the lighting of the great tree at the Governor's Mansion for several years running and also appears every year for WXIA-TV's annual Can-A-Thon in Atlanta.

Other magical adventures cover Tim's personal experiences meeting and working with an array of well-known people. His life has taken him on an unbelievable journey where he was asked to help a man who spent the majority of his life working with Elvis Presley. He also spent time with legendary singer/songwriter Sonny Bono of Sonny and Cher fame.

Cavender also tells of his friendship with an American combat hero who had the unbelievable secret of being the voice of Bambi, one of Walt Disney's most beloved characters. He also became close friends with the daughter of one of the world's most famous clowns, Emmett Kelley, when he discovered that she also lives in Ball Ground. He also recounts sharing the stage with one of NASCAR's greatest drivers, Darrell Waltrip, shortly following one of the most difficult times in the history of automobile racing, the tragic death of racing legend Dale Earnhardt.

A lifelong resident of Ball Ground, Cavender's career in portraying Santa began in 1974 when he was asked to play Kris Kringle at a Christmas assembly while in high school. Since then, Santa Tim has become one of the most recognizable and popular Santas in the southeast. Interestingly, he began two other careers while in high school, including working as a disc jockey at a local radio station, and after developing an interest in magic, he also became a very successful performing magician.

While working as a gospel music disc jockey, Cavender was nominated for many awards, including being one of only ten disc jockeys in the nation to be nominated as Gospel Disc Jockey of the Year by the Singing News Magazine, the nation's largest Christian music publication. As a magician, he has performed on Atlanta television and traveled extensively throughout the country to entertain and motivate others with his inspirational talk, The Magic Within You.

But, when it comes to his many talents and careers, his first love was always portraying Santa Claus, and that career culminated with his being inducted into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame in 2015. At the time of his induction, Cavender was one of only 41 people in the world to be bestowed with the honor. He and his wife, Pam, were knighted into the Order of St. Nicholas shortly after he was named to the Hall of Fame.

If you can't make the Nov. 4 event, another book signing is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at Dean's Store in downtown Woodstock. "Recollections of My Life as Santa Claus and Other Magical Adventures," which is priced at $28.99, may also be purchased at Yawn's Publishing at 2555 Marietta Highway, Suite 103, in Canton. You call the store at 678-880-1922 or visit its website for more information.

Images via Tim Cavender