Profile: Ron Adams

Ron Adams

Spreading Joy & Love Throughout the Year

by Sarah Leslie Gagan

December is the season when our thoughts turn to the magic and wonder of Christmas. We begin to plan good deeds for others and thoughtfully buy gifts to show our respect for those we love. It’s a season of kindness that lasts a few weeks at most, but for Ron Adams, it’s a season that has lasted a lifetime.

Known as Bartlesville’s very own “Santa Claus,” Ron grew up here, attending Labadie Heights School through the 8th grade. He went on to attend 9th grade at Central Junior High, then spend his high school years at College High School, graduating in 1965. Ron’s parents, Mary and Jack Adams, were well known in the community, as Jack was a local milkman.

Music has always been a great love of Ron’s. He began learning and practicing at a young age. During his high school years, he and his brother, Lonnie, played together in a band, with Ron playing steel guitar. They were well known for playing at several venues. Ron also sang and played the tambourine with the group, and earned the nickname of Mr. Tambourine Man. He has many fond memories of attending concerts with friends, seeing legends such as The Grateful Dead and The Doors.

After high school, Ron spent the summer with his uncle in Seattle and loved the scenery. He came back to Oklahoma and attended Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College in Miami, later transferring to Oklahoma State University. The transfer to a large university from a relatively small one was a culture shock for Ron, but he adapted and graduated with a degree in business.

Ron enjoyed 40-plus years in the lending and banking industry, spending more than 30 years at Arvest Bank in Bartlesville. He married and he and his wife, Debi, have a daughter, Lindsey.

Lindsey was born with some health challenges that sparked the desire in Ron to do what he could to make the world a special place for children. He saw the need for children to be allowed to simply be children, without the rush to grow up.

Ron became a Shriner in 1989 and began performing as a professional clown. This provided him with an outlet to bring joy to children in a way that he craved. As Corky T. Clown, Ron spent many hours bringing smiles and laughter to others through his whimsical kindness. He performed regularly at the Kiddie Park with his close friend Bruce “Boo Boo the Clown”

Long. This opened the door for Ron to eventually serve as president on the board of the Kiddie Park, a position he held for more than 15 years until choosing to retire in 2019.

Ron has many fond memories of his time serving as the Kiddie Park president. Two of his finest accomplishments are the creation and installation of the ninehole putt-putt golf course at the park. He exercised his creative talents by designing and developing the course, which remains a delight to many.

Ron’s other grand accomplishment while at the Kiddie Park is the creation of Spook-A-Rama every October. This annual event has become a much-loved Bartlesville tradition, as children dress in costume and enjoy the fall festivities. During Ron’s time of service at the Kiddie Park, he certainly left it a better place than when he found it.

Ron was working at Arvest when they began looking for someone to play Santa Claus one Christmas. He was interested. This opportunity was the beginning of Ron’s magical portrayal of Santa Claus. When his young daughter was ill, Ron had prayed for direction on how to help others going through similar situations, and his destiny was confirmed in a fortune cookie that read, “You have the ability to touch the lives of many people.” Ron still carries that fortune with him today, to remind himself what he is called to do.

Ron has been touching the lives of many as Santa Claus for more than 20 years, and he loves every minute. He has made many fond memories for Bartlesville citizens and their children throughout the years. Following a stroke in 2019, Ron was tempted to hang up the Santa suit, but he recalls hearing a voice whisper to him, “You still have work to do.” He knew then that he must continue to do what he does best — spread joy and love.

Ron reflects, “When you think about it, each one of us touches somebody’s life, and there’s not much bigger reward than that. We would have a lot better world if more people would realize that.”

This year, let’s take a beat from Santa Ron’s heart and focus on touching the lives of others with joy and love, not just at Christmas, but all year long. Ron encourages us all to come together, without anger, and walk this earth as Jesus did. Thank you, Ron, for making us all believe in Santa, no matter what our age. We’ll leave out the milk and cookies for you.

Ron Adams with his wife, Debi.