© 2025 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
KCUR
Morning Edition
KCUR
Morning Edition
Next Up: 9:00 AM Up To Date (816)235-2888
0:00
0:00
Morning Edition
KCUR
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Secret Santa Pays Tribute to Grandview Friend

In Grandview, Mo., Secret Santa stamped the $100 bills with the name Bob Beckers, past mayor and chief of police, who died in August.
photo: Laura Spencer/KCUR
In Grandview, Mo., Secret Santa stamped the $100 bills with the name Bob Beckers, past mayor and chief of police, who died in August.

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-941962.mp3

Grandview, MO – As many children await the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, Kansas City's Secret Santa has already been busy. He's made seven "sleigh rides," and some of his elves have brought that total up to more than a dozen from coast to coast. It's a tradition stretching back more than 30 years to Larry Stewart, who gave out hundred dollar bills to strangers, those in need, every December.

When Stewart died in 2007, it's estimated he'd handed out $1.3 million. KCUR's Laura Spencer tagged along with Secret Santa in Grandview, Missouri, earlier this week - and has this report.

Laura Spencer is staff writer/editor at the Kansas City Public Library and a former arts reporter at KCUR.
KCUR prides ourselves on bringing local journalism to the public without a paywall — ever.

Our reporting will always be free for you to read. But it's not free to produce.

As a nonprofit, we rely on your donations to keep operating and trying new things. If you value our work, consider becoming a member.