King Boreas rules no more.
Vulcanus Rex and his crew of mischievous Vulcans overthrew the King of the Winds after the Torchlight Parade on Saturday night, signaling an end to the 2009 St. Paul Winter Carnival.
And just who was that man behind the Fire King mask?
It was Joe Vogel, who, along with his Vulcan Krewe, rode the streets of St. Paul on their fire truck all carnival long, promising warm weather to come.
Here’s what he had to say:
The duties of the Fire King: “Being a running member, you’re basically responsible for making sure the fun is happening, so you’re really more the active person than the Fire King,” said Vogel, 46, who works as a mechanic for the U.S. Postal Service. “The Fire King is basically the supervisor, baby sitter. Anything that happens, I’m responsible for.” His seven Vulcans have been kept in line under his watch, Vogel said.
How he got involved: His brother Mark served as the Prince of Soot in 1999. Vogel joined the Vulcan Krewe two years later as the Duke of Klinker. “When I got involved, I just fell in love with it,” said Vogel, who went on to serve for three years on the Fire & Brimstone board of directors. His brother Lew also was a Vulcan — Grand Duke Fertilious in 2003.
His background: “I’m an original East Sider,” Vogel said of growing up on St. Paul’s East Side. After graduating from Johnson High School in 1980, he joined the Marine Corps and traveled the world for eight years as a helicopter crew chief. “You know what?” said Vogel. “Minnesota’s so great that no matter what the heck I saw I came back home.”
His family: Vogel lives in North St. Paul with his wife, Michelle. The couple have no children, but their dog, Roscoe, acts like one, Vogel said.
His favorite part of this year’s carnival: On Monday, the Vulcan Krewe paid a visit to the Metro Deaf School in St. Paul to entertain the students. Vogel said he doesn’t know sign language, but that didn’t stop him and the rest of the Krewe from putting on a show. “You start doing stuff they can understand and that room lights up with their little smiling faces,” said Vogel. “That’s got to be the best thing there is.”
What he’ll do to celebrate the dethroning of King Boreas: “I think we’re going to go swimming in the river, ’cause it will be nice and warm,” Vogel said.
On the future of the Winter Carnival: “We love the city of St. Paul, and we really want to see this carnival go on,” Vogel said. “There’s too much tradition that’s gone by the wayside, and we can’t let this go.”
Andy Rathbun can be reached at 651-228-2121.
Copyright 2009 Pioneer Press.
