Joe Szwed wears a silly hat as Court member Molly Bell escorts him to the stage to become king of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Friday night. (Enterprise photo — Griffin Kelly)

The 2020 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival King was born in Sloan, New York. He’s the son of Anna and Michael, and has lived in Saranac Lake for more than 40 years.

He served in the U.S. Navy.

He attended Bowman Gray School of Medicine, graduating as a physician’s assistant. Among other colleges, he has attended SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

In the past he was a referee for Saranac Lake youth basketball and a volunteer for High Peaks Hospice, Literacy Volunteers and Habitat for Humanity. Currently he volunteers with First Night Saranac Lake, Lake Placid Ironman, the Out of the Darkness suicide awareness walk and the Saranac Lake Pee Wee Hockey Association. He also delivers Meals on Wheels.

He has been an usher with Pendragon Theatre and the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. He acted in the first Pendragon musical.

During Winter Carnival, he assisted with the youth skating races for many years, served as a parade judge, a gift shop helper, a Carnival character and a parade participant.

He enjoys kayaking and cross-country skiing, and has traveled extensively through the U.S. and eastern Canada both on his motorcycle and in his kayak.

He is a member of St. Barnard’s Catholic Church and a deacon there.

He has been married to his wife Beryl for nearly 50 years. Together they have three children: Nissa and her husband Erik, Joshua and his wife Carrie, and Rory and his wife Amanda. He has five grandchildren: Braydon, Kayla, Phoebe, Olivia and Kevin. He is a brother to Robert, Thomas, Valentine and Delores.

The 2020 Winter Carnival King is Joseph Szwed.