Troy Fire Department Captain Willie Parker already has plans for his retirement.

“I’m taking my wife to work,” he said. “Somebody’s got to work.”

In a ceremony the City of Troy held Wednesday in his honor, Parker did what those who knew him well said he always did. He made everyone laugh.

“No matter what shift, if I saw his car outside, I knew I could go in the fire station and get a laugh,” said John Wright of the Troy Police Department.

The ceremony quickly took the tone of a roast as friends and co-workers shared stories of Parker. There was the time he added Ex-lax to eggs to teach a firefighter a lesson about stealing everyone’s food. And the time a co-worker jumped out of Parker’s locker and startled him.

The stories epitomized what Chief Thomas Outlaw got out of working with Parker.

“The years I spent with Willie were some of the most memorable years I spent with the fire department,” Outlaw said. “Willie made it fun.”

Outlaw said Parker’s lighthearted approach carried over into the job. Parker taught him how to relax during the most intense situations.

“When we got a fire call, he didn’t get uptight,” he said. “All I can say is nobody appreciates Willie Parker as much as I do.”

Jimmy Lunsford, former mayor of Troy, told Parker he would enjoy retirement and said he had been a great ambassador to Troy.

Mayor Jason Reeves presented Parker with a proclamation and thanked him for his 37 years of service. He said he was proud of Parker and proud for him.

After admitting all of the stories were true, Parker thanked his guests.

“I just thank y’all for taking the time to come out,” he said.