If you stop by the electric utility’s main offices, you’ll probably start laughing and smiling if you bump into Jackie DeMuth. You can’t miss her. She’s the one with the reindeer antlers on her head.
For many years, Jackie has expressed her love of the holidays through her vibrant outfits. She sports dazzling holiday sweaters and many times, matching headgear with sparkly snowflakes or silly snowmen.
“I’ve always loved the holidays. It’s such a magical time,” Jackie stated. “I have a bunch of holiday clothes. Each day I wear something different. What’s funny is that people would start giving me holiday headgear that they’ve seen, wanting to live vicariously through me. They really want to wear it themselves, but they’re afraid to do it themselves, but they know I’m just wacky enough to wear it myself!”
Jackie showed up for our interview with an extra holiday headgear, just in case...
All of this fun started in the early 1990s. “When I was working in retail customer service, I found that it didn’t matter how long the lines were, if you wore something goofy on your head, by the time that someone got to you, they either had to smile, or they might be too afraid to mess with you!” Jackie laughed. “It usually brought a smile to their face, no matter how tired they were, or how grumpy they were, or how stressed they were, it was always a fun way to break the ice.”
The thing is, you’re never quite sure what you’re going to see. One day it’s a reindeer motif, the next day she is decked out as her favorite snowman. Jackie usually starts the season off with a Santa theme.
Friends and coworkers: Glenn Hoffman, Petra Wallace, Desiree Pickert, Matt Nelson, and Lisa Gist.
After 13 years of holiday laughter and service to the City, Jackie will be retiring from the City on December 20th. She already has a replacement for her position, but we want to know…who will carry on the tradition of dressing up in holiday garb for the staff and visitors? Jackie said that she is thinking about bequeathing her holiday headgear to the department so some head-strong employee, who does not live in fear of either snowmen or reindeer, can embrace this holiday tradition.
Jackie's house, decorated for the holiday, December 2018
“It’s all about the smiles. The kids love the outfits,” Jackie added, “Just the other day, a little girl was smiling at me because I was wearing my 'I believe in Santa Claus' hat. It’s all about the smiles, the little kids, and the magic.”
In a building full of electric stars, Jackie you are indeed a shining light! Thank you for your laughter and for celebrating your love of the holidays.