Sometimes even Santa needs to get his wish. For years, longtime friends Howard Payne ’48 and TCU costume designer LaLonnie Lehman talked about creating special TCU purple Santa suits for him and “Mrs. Claus.” Howard and wife Mildred Erby Payne ’48 have portrayed the official University Claus couple for more than two decades. But Lehman’s busy production schedule never allowed for making a special TCU holiday suit. Until this year.

Spying a piece of purple fabric in a store reminded her of Payne’s request. Unable to find just the right shade of Horned Frog purple through her usual sources, Lehman finally called on the help of theatre alumnus Barry Doss ’91 in New York, who was happy to ship twelve yards of luxurious TCU purple velvet to a delighted Lehman.

Lehman has been with the TCU theatre department for 35 years, but this was her first opportunity to create a Santa suit. The labor of love features details like a gold TCU logo on Santa’s hat and a cluster of jingling bells at the belt. “We’re in theater, so we get carried away sometimes,” Lehman said, laughing.