(FREE) Chamber Buzz: Annual Santa Buck Giveaway
Story by Shelley Arrott | Contributing Writer
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Happy November, Ponca City! The first days of the month mark the beginning of the Chamber’s annual Santa Buck Giveaway Sales Promotion. Every holiday season, excitement fills the air as shoppers eagerly gather their tickets for a chance to win big! What began as an initiative to boost the local economy has grown into a beloved holiday tradition, becoming an iconic part of Ponca City’s festive spirit and making December even more special. To celebrate the kickoff of the Santa Buck Giveaway, I’ve taken a deep dive into the history of this cherished tradition, speaking with many longtime Ponca Citians to learn more about its roots and evolution.
My research revealed that the Santa Buck Giveaway first originated through the Ponca City Main Street Program, with David Keathly leading the effort. After learning this, I reached out to Keathly directly! While the exact year of the promotion – originally known as the Community-Wide Holiday Giveaway – is unclear, most agree it began in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Keathly was inspired by a similar promotion in another community and thought it would be a great way to boost local sales. The tradition began with an exciting grand prize: a 1965 Mustang, purchased at cost from Carter Buller, the owner of Spray’s Jewelry, who was renowned for refurbishing classic cars. Shoppers earned one ticket for every $10 spent at downtown-only merchants, and on the day of the drawing, the Mustang was proudly displayed between 4th & 5th and Grand in front of City Hall.
One of the key requirements for the first drawings was that winners had to be present to claim their prize. As a result, shoppers packed the parking spaces and lots along Grand Avenue, eagerly tuning in to local radio stations to hear if their number was called. Keathly recalled that the Ponca City Police Department estimated as many as 2,000 cars and 4,000 people crowded the downtown area, all hoping for a chance to win. While no one remembers who won the first Poinsettia Red 1965 Mustang, the iconic car remained the grand prize for the next two years. In the second year, the Mustang was Spruce Green, and the third year, it was a Snow-White Mustang!
The Chamber is believed to have taken over the event after the three Mustangs were given away, though the exact year remains uncertain. The shift was made to involve the entire business community, not just downtown merchants. A committee, called “Give Ponca the Business” or “Give Ponca the Bucks,” was formed to organize the event, and the prizes evolved into Santa Bucks, which could be spent at participating businesses, ensuring local sales benefited the merchants. The ticket drawings took place from a hopper set up in the Chamber parking lot, while participants listened from home or in their cars over the radio. Winners had five minutes to call the Chamber office to verify their ticket number and 15 minutes to bring their winning ticket to the office to claim their prize. The Community-Wide Holiday Giveaway’s slogan became “Shop Ponca First.”
In 1996, Mayor Homer Nicholson recalls that the event was moved to Sullins Stadium. That same year, he purchased his first brand-new vehicle, a Ford F150 pick-up, and was asked to transport the ticket hopper on his trailer. With his new truck, he pulled the hopper to the stadium, where ticket-holding patrons filled the stands that evening, clutching their tickets in whatever bags they had brought. Chamber Board Members spun the hopper, drawing tickets for Santa Bucks prizes, and announced the winning numbers over a microphone from the field. At that time, winners had to be present to claim their prizes, so the crowd eagerly sifted through their tickets, hoping for a lucky win!
That same year, the event’s growth called for an upgrade, transforming the original rudimentary chicken-wire-covered wooden hopper into a massive wheel hopper encased in Plexiglas. The new design was necessary to accommodate the over one million tickets collected for the giveaway! The wheel, originally used to hold electrical wire, was generously donated, and Homer Nicholson – who was not yet mayor – contributed the Plexiglas and his time to help cover the wheel. He was assisted by his future wife, Barbara Rozell. Mitchco built the sturdy tripod to support the enormous wheel hopper, and the rest is history.
With over a million tickets inside, the hopper was incredibly heavy, and it took several men to turn it. A fun bit of trivia: after each year's Santa Buck Giveaway, Rozell would crawl through a small trap door to clear out the tickets. She even found a photo of her and Homer working on the hopper. Recently, Homer and I visited Hangar Number 6 at the Ponca City Municipal Airport, where the iconic hopper is still stored today, and I had the chance to photograph him with it!
Rich Cantillon was named as the Chamber President/CEO in 2004 and oversaw his first holiday giveaway event with the name changing to Santa Buck Giveaway. The event was held at Sullins Stadium, with Keni Ray serving as Chamber Chair. That year, the weather was brutal – sleet, snow and strong winds – but the stands were still packed with hopeful ticket holders, bundled up and braving the cold to claim their winnings! With tickets blowing everywhere and freezing conditions, it was decided that the Santa Buck Giveaway would no longer be held at Sullins Stadium. Additionally, the hopper had become too large to turn or transport, so tickets were stored at the Chamber Office, and local radio stations KPNC, KLOR, KLVV and WBBZ broadcast the drawing live as the winning numbers were called.
Today, the Santa Buck Giveaway is hosted at the Chamber Office, with KPNC, KLOR and WBBZ broadcasting live from the office. The prizes remain Santa Bucks, with $10,000 given away – one $5,000 prize, three $1,000 prizes and four $500 prizes. To add to the excitement, Chamber Secret Santas surprise shoppers at participating businesses by covering $50 of their purchase in Santa Bucks.
This beloved tradition, now more than 30 years old, has grown from a simple holiday sales promotion into a community-wide celebration. Families and friends even host Santa Buck Giveaway Watch Parties as part of their holiday traditions. With thousands of dollars in prizes up for grabs, the event attracts both locals and visitors, all while supporting local businesses and spreading holiday cheer. It’s a fantastic opportunity for businesses to give back to loyal customers and community members eager to join in the fun.
The Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce’s Santa Buck Giveaway begins Saturday, Nov. 2. To participate, simply shop locally at any participating merchant for your chance to win big! There’s no cost to shoppers – all you need to do is shop local and support our community. Participating merchants range from car dealers to retailers to service providers, giving you plenty of chances to earn tickets and win a bundle of Santa Bucks to help with your holiday needs!
Good luck, local shoppers! Be sure to tune in on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. to KPNC, KLOR or WBBZ. Have your tickets ready and let the excitement build from the comfort of your home. With every number called, we hope luck is on your side!
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