He was the spirit of a Texas Christmas. His neighbors are honoring him one last time

This year’s Christmas tradition is bittersweet for residents in the Glenbrook neighborhood.

The neighbors will keep to their tradition of decorating their neighborhood in the Texas/Southwest theme from the poem, “The Night Before Christmas — in Texas, That Is.” But one home has a special meaning for Glenbrook and the visitors who come every year to look at the lights and read the story boards from the well-known poem.

Their neighbor, Dennis Bianchi, died unexpectedly in July. His home was the focal point of the annual event, a place where children sat on Santa’s lap and where Bianchi made everyone feel welcome when he gave out candy and put out a special chair for Santa.

His children decorated their childhood home for the last time, in memory of their father, and neighbors remembered their friend with a special party Sunday.

Cindy Hogue, who always decorates her home, said she is glad that Bianchi’s house will be decorated for one last time.

“It has always been very special to see cars go by and to watch all of the people stopping to see Dennis’ house. It’s a very special and unique thing,” she said.

The neighbors in Glenbrook started their Christmas tradition almost 30 years ago, and decided to tell the story of “The Night before Christmas — In Texas, That Is” with handmade story boards, lights and cut-outs of cactus, buckboards and hay bales.

The poem was written in 1952 by Leon Harris, who was executive vice president at the former A. Harris & Co. department stores. Harris wrote the poem in 15 minutes before going to a holiday party. He asked employees to create displays based on the Texas theme.

The story describes Santa wearing his 10-gallon hat, riding his buckboard across the prairie, where there is no snow. He stops at the cabin where Buddy and Sue are dreaming of Christmas.

This story was originally published November 26, 2018 at 10:00 AM.