Thor Olaf Highland will tell you he has been Santa Claus for 40 years.

When asked if he’s the real deal, Highland will say, “Of course I am!” and tug on his full white beard to prove it.

Highland has had a beard for 25 years. When he was younger, he was a Santa Claus with a red beard.

Highland said the best part of playing the role of Santa Claus is seeing the children and trying to make them feel like they’re having a good Christmas.

“It makes me feel good,” Highland said.

Bonnie Johnson, marketing manager of North Grand Mall, 2801 N. Grand Ave., said Highland is great with the children.

“He’s really good one-on-one with the kids and is a good listener,” Johnson said.

She said every child who visits him gets a treat.

“Having Santa Claus is a service we have for the community,” Johnson said.

Santa Claus visits with all ages – from one week old to 90 years old.

No one is too young or old to still believe in Santa, even college students. Highland said he has several college girls sit on his lap and take pictures with him.

Highland said one of the most popular requests when children are sitting on his lap this year is the Xbox 360.

“Several kids also ask for the Butterscotch pony from Target,” Highland said.

As Santa, Highland has also had real tearjerker requests. He said he had a child whose only want was that his parents to have a good Christmas. Another child just wanted his father home from the war.

How does Highland handle these tough requests?

“You gotta enjoy what you’re doing,” he said.

When Highland isn’t serving as Santa Claus, he works for the Iowa Department of Transportation. And instead of a fluffy red-and-white Santa suit, he wears a plaid shirt and blue jeans.