EDINBURG – Earlier this month, people learned Santa Claus has a second home in the Rio Grande Valley. Every year he grants wishes to one Valley city.

It’s no secret to Edinburg residents that Saint Nick calls the Valley home. They’ve known since the 1950s.

“The Santa Claus that we have here in the city of Edinburg was a donation by the university, at that point Pan American University, 1954,” Edinburg librarian Letty Leija said.

The Santa made of burlap and canvas stands at about 15 feet tall. He started granting wishes at the Hidalgo County Courthouse. Now, the jolly legend stands at Edinburg City Hall.

Perhaps no one has more fond memories of old Saint Nick than Edinburg Police Chief David White. Seeing Santa takes him back to the 90s.

“Just being a young patrolman back then I used to cruise around the city, see the old snowman,” he said.

In fact, the statue meant so much to him, the young patrolman decided to ask Santa for a gift he’ll never forget.

“I was dating a young woman from Pharr, and still am, she’s my wife now. And early in December of ’92, sometimes I took her to the old man after seeing lights, and we sat down. I kneeled down in front of her and asked her to be my wife. And she’s still been my wife for the last 24 years,” White shared.

White isn’t alone. Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina said wishing upon a Santa Claus is a local tradition.

“Myself as a kid, my mom used to say, ‘Hey get down and tell Santa what you want.’ So she would find a place over in the parking lot, I would walk over and tell Santa what it is I wanted for Christmas,” he recalled.

In late November, the city invested just over $1,000 to make sure he’s around for years to come.

“And like any 60-year-old, the hips start to go, the knees start to hurt, and that’s what was happening with our Santa,” Leija said.

Officials contacted Texas sculptor Douglas Clark to give Santa the facelift he needed.

“He was able to help to rehab our Santa and we’re very happy that he’s got a new makeover, and he’s ready and excited to hear all the children’s wishes,” Leija said.

A few days after Santa got his makeover, his south Texas home mirrored the North Pole. And ‘snow’ one knows if this revamped 15-foot Santa had something to do with it.