by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow —  When Mark Farley was working in an aircraft plant, he gradually got the feeling that he wanted to do something different and help people.

“My sister gave me a pamphlet on an EMT program, and I enrolled in the course,” Farley said.

Friday was the end of a long and distinguished career for Farley, who retired after 40 years.

In the fall of 1975, Farley graduated from the Emergency Medical Technician program at Wichita State University. In January of 1976, an opening was available in Wellington, and he was hired. For the first five years, Farley served as an Wellington EMT. In 1978, he graduated from Southwestern College’s paramedic program.

“I met my wife, Beth, on an ambulance call in the summer of 1979,” Farley said. “There was a call at the turnpike service center, and she needed medical attention. Two weeks later I called her and asked her on a date, and the rest is history.”

Mark and Beth Farley have been married for 35 years and have four children. Beth is a part-time teacher’s assistant at Wellington Middle School.

Farley said that his favorite part of being a firefighter/paramedic was the variety it brought each day.

“Each day you knew it could be anything when you go out, whether it’s fire or EMS related,” Farley said.

Farley’s last day was Mar. 17, and a retirement reception was held for him Mar. 18 at the fire station, with cake and refreshments. He was presented with a plaque, his fire jacket in a frame, numerous other certificates, and a football signed by all members of the Kansas City Chiefs.

As for retirement plans, he said that nothing is set in stone.

“I plan to do stuff around the house, visit our kids, do some traveling, just start from there,” Farley said.

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