Firefighters, from left, Frank Angelone and Rick Laughlin wear personal locator alarms at a Jan. 8, 2001, fire. Laughlin is retiring from the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical and will be featured in the fire department float at the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Monday.

Rick Laughlin won’t be wearing green during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, but he’ll be cruising in a green fire truck wearing a big smile.

Laughlin, 60, is retiring Monday after serving 30 years as a firefighter and paramedic with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical.

“Personally, I can’t imagine having a better career,” he said. “It’s rewarding, and in so many ways you work with the best people possible; there’s a lot of camaraderie.”

He said it was fortuitous that he chose his retirement date for Monday.

“When I realized, I spoke to my battalion chief and I said it would be nice if I could drive the truck, since I’m Irish,” Laughlin said.

Typically, Laughlin is at Fire Station No. 2, which doesn’t participate in the parade, but Joe Hoelscher, Laughlin’s battalion chief, said a special adjustment was made.

Laughlin will be waving to a downtown crowd as the acting officer in a ladder truck for Station No. 5. The fire department, which always features its older green trucks, is one of 100 floats or vehicles in the parade. It’s a long-standing tradition in the community, and a great way to send off a firefighter, Hoelscher said.

“He’s a great guy and has had a long career with us, so it’s nice to be able to do something special like that,” he said.

Others making special appearances during the parade include: Miss Kansas Michelle Gillespie, Miss Wheelchair Kansas Amanda Steiner, and St. Patrick’s Day queen Colleen Callahan.

The parade begins at 1 p.m. by South Park near 11th and Massachussetts streets. The parade continues north over the Kansas River bridge, takes a right at Locust Street and continues to the Flamingo Club, 501 N. Ninth St. Six judges there will tally votes for the best floats in three categories: family, corporate and special entry.

“It’s just an exciting, fun day,” said Teresa McGuire, a member of the St. Patrick’s Day Committee. “We’re going to have the parade snow, rain or shine. It will go on – the only thing I think would stop us is a tornado.”

A severe storm is possible Monday for the area, said Jennifer Schack, 6News chief meteorologist.

“There is a potential for the central Plains to be dealing with an interesting day,” she said. “The severe storm system may pass Kansas, but it’s possible it could still bring strong winds, clouds and rain to Lawrence.”

Poor weather postponed the Luck-of-the-Irish Poker Run last week, but it is rescheduled for Saturday. Registration for the motorcycle event begins 10:30 a.m. at the Slow Ride Roadhouse, 1350 N. Third St. The ride begins at noon.