Garry Anderson has been wearing uniforms all his life. He started first as a police officer for the City of Renton and rose through the ranks to eventually become the police chief.

Anderson traded in his blue police uniform for the bright red and white, plush guise of Santa Claus soon after retiring from the force in 2006.

He made a preview appearance in Renton Tuesday to sit down with the Renton Reporter for a chat. Anderson, er, Santa makes his official arrival to the Piazza at 5 p.m. Saturday for Piazza Renton’s Tree Lighting festival.

As Anderson posed for pictures in the square Tuesday afternoon, he drew attention from honking cars and waving shopkeepers.

“This (uniform) brings kids and adults to the same place,” he said.

Anderson doesn’t remember exactly how he became old St. Nick for the community group’s event. But, he did remember wanting to give back to the city after so many years spent working for the Police Department. He called his Santa gig a great and fun job.

“Renton was very, very good to me and my family and (I) had a lot of opportunities here in 28 years,” Anderson said.

Previous to becoming Piazza Renton’s Santa Claus, Anderson donned the costume for his grandchildren and other city and community groups.

His wife Vicki has joined him as Mrs. Claus at the Piazza event since he started volunteering in 2007.

She thinks his voice is too high to be Santa Claus, so Anderson practices lowering it an octave for more authentic sounding Ho, Ho, Hos.

He was born in Renton, but grew up in Issaquah and fondly remembers the local Santa he experienced as a kid.

“Obviously as a very young child, I didn’t know that Santa Claus was a legend in Issaquah,” Anderson said. “His name was Bill Bergsma and he was a very kind, generous, gentle man, who 360 days a year drove a milk truck around the neighborhood.”

The great big jovial milkman would transform himself into Santa Claus every Christmas Eve, Anderson said.

He didn’t know this for years, but he remembers a special air and magic around the milkman. Bergsma would let the kids in the neighborhood ride in his milk truck.

“I just didn’t put two and two together ‘til I was probably far older than most,” he said.

Anderson remembers Bergsma visiting his grandmother’s house on his glad-tidings rounds.

“He would spend his Christmas Eve traveling all over Issaquah to people who he knew to be their Santa Claus,” Anderson said. “That’s how he’d spend Christmas Eve, so that was pretty gracious of him.”

Anderson called Bergsma a legendary fixture in Issaquah, who when he died had to have his funeral at the local high school because of his popularity.

As a result of Anderson’s experience with Bergsma, he was never afraid of Santa Claus. But Anderson has seen some children who are afraid of Santa at the Piazza.

Anderson tries really hard to make it a pleasant experience for them so children aren’t afraid.

He’s noticed more and more kids attending Santa’s booth every year at the Piazza. Anderson has watched repeat little visitors grow up over the years, thanking him for their presents.

“So, it feels good to still be associated and acquainted with Renton in doing just a little bit to help make Renton what it is,” Anderson said.

Santa arrives Saturday at the Piazza

The downtown Renton Holiday Tree Lighting and Santa’s arrival will happen from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.,  Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Renton Piazza at Third Street and Burnett Street. The event features local musicians and singers, free refreshments, children’s gifts and a visit from Santa. This is a bring-your-own-camera event.

For more information visit, www.piazzarenton.com. or call Pat at 425-917-0173.