Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-25

Ian VutSOu d OiB, OdlO, ft-yGdI -OfO asphalt CCn-
tractor Of Oklahoma City, is the unknown Santa Claus
to nearly hundred thousand youngsters to whom
Christmas bitter lonely time Of the year. He sends
millions Of simple Christmas gifts to the children of
imprisoned and women in this country and several
other parts Of the world.
The cash cost Of this project amounts strangely
enough. to only few thousand dollars that come out
of Wilson's pocket and those of his close friends.
Vinson is able TO give because people give to him.
While he does not solicit accept money he gratefully
takes anything else that will support his enterprise
Manufacturers in four states contribute metals. cloth
and cardboard Others provide machinery turn the
materials into toys. Truck companies haul the freight
without charge and unload it in warehouses and
garages, most Of which are occupied rent-free.
Scores of people ministers and ex-convicts, society
matrons and salesgirls housewives with their children
and women from homes for the aged - fnsh sort and
package the gifts. Stenographers give away their
ningS to type labels, donated by paper firm Local
calls made on telephones that billed.
This year the gifts will go to dozen countries, from
Canada to Argentina from Australia to England The
mailing list includes youngsters every state as well as
several thousands in Puerto Rico and Latin America
Vinson. tall. bignosed and brght-eyed looks good
deal like reaife Santa Claus. He isn't sentimental
about his project. This is my way Of having good
time. I'm not doing it because feel guilty about any
thing" he laughs and didn't have unhappy child
hood. get fun out of and maybe it does some good"
ms IOfmuIa LOT living grew OUT OF PERSONAL Idl-
ure Back in the early thirties Vinson recalls, e"
trying to develop new kind of asphalt MIXTURE
went broke. cold broke. ! used to sleep in my
because couldn't afford a ROOM When the weather
got bad I'd drive to friends house and ask for meal
and a bed Nobody ever refused me. learned how
much little help means to person who needs il"
''They Clouded Over
During the next few years Vinson slowly built up his
business contractor. To appease his hearty appe
tite he drove he carried box Of nickel candy bars
On one Of his trips he visited the State Training
School for Negro Boys at Boley and brought his box
of candy into the yard As the kids swamed around
he broke the candy bars in pieces to make them all
the way ut reminded me Of how little it takes to make
kids laugh and brighten up" he said
Another part Of his future was worked out while he
completing paving job at the state prison at
McAlester Il got to talking to the men there" he
says, land they were pretty cynical about themselves
and about their wives. But when they mentioned
their children. they didn't wisecrack They ciouded
found that most Of these kids had family
life and not much Of anything else. They didn't COM
init any crime, but they sure suffering for one |
felt ought to do something but didn't know what.
Then. shortly before Christmas 1912, paper manu-
facturcr, who knew of WILSON'S interest in children,
offered him nearly ton of paper cutout toys. Vinson
didn't know where to give away that much so he asked
a friend at radio station to announce that the toys
were available for needy children.
That evening he tried TO call the asphalt company
where he made his Office but couldn't get through.
Local and long-dstance telephone calls from schools
orphanageS, hospitals and correctional institutions
ciogeed the lines with requests for toys.
Il got more than bareained for Vnson grinned.
Il couldn't get the toys out alone Il had to ask friends