In 1982, Ron Morin graduated with Maine’s very first class of paramedics. It would kick off a lifelong career.

In the 33 years since, he’s owned and operated Sugarloaf Ambulance/Rescue, founded the Maine EMS Honor Guard and taught EMT courses to the next generation of first responders. And he’s saved lives.

It all started because Morin fell in love with the TV show “Emergency!”

Today he continues his work by designing and selling ambulances and rescue vehicles. Morin’s latest special? A truck modeled after the one on “Emergency!”

Name: Ron Morin

Age: Undetermined

Married/ relationship/ single: Married

Town: Wilton

Job: Design and sales of ambulances and rescue vehicles

What was it like to graduate with Maine’s first-ever paramedic class? Motivating. Becoming “Johnny and Roy” (from the TV show “Emergency!”) on the streets in Maine, how cool was that! We were the first in Maine graduating and there was only 30 of us in Lewiston-Auburn, Farmington and Sugarloaf Rescue in Carrabassett Valley.

What was it about “Emergency!” that grabbed your attention? The drama, the excitement and the things that could be done by paramedics. Seemed like they could bring the emergency room to the scene!

How has being a paramedic changed since then? Paramedic training (from the ’80s) has now become an academic program being taught at the community colleges in Auburn, Waterville, southern Maine and eastern Maine in Bangor, continuously. Mostly degree programs.

Best part about being a paramedic: Caring, giving comfort, preventing the sudden onset of death, holding memere’s hand at one time and getting into the craziest positions extricating someone from a crushed vehicle. Watching someone go from near death and paralysis to walking into your office and saying thank you.

Most challenging part: Continuing education requirements, renewing your license every three years.

Where have you been a paramedic? In Carrabassett Valley, owner-operator of Sugarloaf Ambulance/Rescue for 28 years.

Do you think being a paramedic in California’s L-A (home of “Emergency!”) is different from being one in Maine’s L-A? Oh yes. In Maine you never know where your day will take you. In memere’s bedroom or on top of Bigelow Mountain, 2,800 feet to rescue a hiker on the Appalachian Trail, 30 miles in the deep woods, rescue of a snowmobile operator who crashed or transporting a patient from Coburn Gore with a fish hook in his eye a mere 88 miles to the near hospital in Farmington.

I hear you’ve built a pretty cool truck: (Called) “Lost Angels,” a replica of Squad 51 from the TV Series “Emergency!”

Why “Lost Angels” and not Los Angeles? “Lost Angels” refers to angels in para-medicine, lost but not forgotten.

How long did it take to build? About 3 to 4 months.

What was the hardest part? Finding some of the original-year equipment — silly as it may seem  — the mounts for the Twinsonic light bar.

What made you decide to build it? To bring back the history of EMS in the earlier years, to educate our young EMTs and paramedics on how EMS was born and how it has evolved.

What will you do with it? Trade shows, fundraisers for EMS and fire departments, parades, private shows and every fire department/EMS-related event I can get to.

Best “Emergency!” episode ever? The day the nurse (on a ride-a-long) had to save Roy Desoto, defibrillation and all.

If they did a Maine version of “Emergency!” what actor would play you? Randolph Mantooth (who played Johnny Gage in “Emergency!”). He was keynote speaker at The Atlantic Partners EMS Seminar on Nov. 14 in Rockport. And the best part is I was honored to be the person to go to the airport and pick him up and take him to Rockport. I couldn’t take the vehicle, though, because he has to travel secretly, because his “followers” would prevent him from arriving on time.