JCB Inc. was presented the Thomas J. Beytagh trophy for its entry in the 2004 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, Ga. The trophy honors the late Thomas J. Beytagh, 1976 Grand Marshal of the annual parade. The parade in Savannah is the second largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the world.

A JCB 214 backhoe loader, festooned in a green top hat and carrying a large glittering shamrock in the bucket, brought a touch of JCB humor to this year's Savannah parade on March 17. JCB and local dealer Low Country Machinery teamed up for the parade with the backhoe loader leading the JCB parade entry.

The JCB backhoe loader was followed by Low Country Machinery's "tow and show" truck and trailer rig with a JCB 8017 mini excavator and a 170 Robot skid steer loader wearing mini top hats and shamrocks.

Dermot Ahern, minister for communications, marine and natural resources in the Irish government, commented, "I have been to St. Patrick's Day parades all over the world, and one thing they all have in common is that there is always a JCB in the parade, everywhere I've been."

JCB machines were seen not only by over 350,000 spectators along the parade route in Savannah's Historic District, but also viewed on two television stations which hosted live broadcasts of the parade.

The North American Headquarters of JCB Inc. is located in Savannah, Ga., where backhoe loaders are manufactured.