What is your specialty, and why did you decide to choose it?
I am a pharmacist and an herbalist. In the '50s in pharmacy school, we studied pharmacognacy, which is a study of herbs, so it was part of my training. After school I went into the Army and then worked in a hospital pharmacy, followed by 12 years working in a chain pharmacy. It was then that I began to carve out what I wanted to do. I had always wanted to go into business for myself. So in 1981, I started an independent store in Memphis, Tennessee. You see, having gone to school in New Orleans I needed to know about the culture - there it was more typical to know about voodoo and herbs. After I opened up my store, I put up a display about herbs that I had made in school in 1953. Customers would ask about it. When I opened my store in a new 2,900-square-foot location, I put in an herb shop along with the regular pharmacy. The pharmacy has been designed with multiple areas that include Internet orders, counseling room for patients, prescription department, compounding room, drugstore department and herbal department.

I use the compounding room primarily for dermacological remedies. Here in Memphis, we only have three pharmacists who still compound. It's part of the old school teachings.

One of the reasons I decided to pursue herbal medicine was because I wanted to satisfy my clientele. It's such an intricate part of an independent pharmacy. I remember going to association meetings and being laughed at, so it's something that I struggled with.

How long have you been involved in the profession?
Since the early '50s.

What is the one goal that you have set for yourself relative to your career?
To educate my family into the pharmacy world. All of my daughters are involved in the field. Two have received their Pharm.D. and the other is a certified technician. I have a very scientific family. My grandson is a chemistry professor at Tennessee State. While they work at different places, my daughters have always been part of the business. This pharmacy provided the opportunity for their education.

What do you like best about working in the pharmaceutical field?
It's really about satisfying customers and rendering pharmaceutical care. This is what I love. In any one day, I can be receiving orders online, counseling someone, working in the herb store, compounding drugs or working in the mail order room.

What are your most proud accomplishments in your profession? In your life?
In the store we have a showcase that features the 1992 Bowl of Hugie Award, which then was the highest honor in the industry given by Wife Pharmaceutical Corp. I also have had the opportunity to serve on many boards and organizations. Known as "Champ" to my industry peers, I received the York Garrett Award, which recognizes the outstanding pharmacist in community pharmacy, two times from the NPHA. I also have built a respectable reputation in the community from the mayor on down. But I am a humble man, and I don't let my ego go out on that.

What goes through your mind before you go to work each day?
How am I going to pay these bills? It's a lot of fun in pharmacy, but it's not as much fun as it used to be. There are so many restrictions today. There was more money to be made years ago. The independents are still struggling. I don't consider myself in competition with the chain stores because we're different. People still want the personal attention that we give. These are the types of relationships that people come from great distances to get. In Shelby County, there are still about 10 independent pharmacists, and we have a population of at least 1 million people for whom we can provide care.

What is your favorite part of the day?
1 p.m. to 2 p.m. That's when we lock the doors at the store. I have my lunch, read the mail and then take a nap. I'm 74 years old, so my customers understand my need to do this.

What, if any, barriers or challenges have you personally had to overcome?
Being African American there are barriers, but I really don't see any that I haven't overcome.

How do you address health care disparities among minority populations within your profession?
I see disparities all the time. I have had situations where customers would come in with certain symptoms such as thirst, blurred vision, and weight loss, which may point to diabetes. I provide them with urination sticks so I can detect if there is a problem and if a physician should be sought. I am constantly reminding people about the right diet, nutrition, fitness and getting medical care when needed.

What are your plans for the future?
When you retire you die, so I have a feeling I will always be practicing pharmacy, even when I'm up there.

What words of wisdom do you have for students just graduating?
Try to be vigilant in the profession. Be one step ahead if you can. Take advantage of new things within the profession. I still have and refer to a scrapbook of articles and ideas that I have been collecting since 1952.

What do you like to do in your spare time (hobbies, interests, sports, travel, volunteering)?
Most of my hobbies have really gotten away from me. But I love to work on the computer here at the store and at home. When customers have health care questions or concerns, I like to research for them. In my younger days, I would take bus trips to New York City or Canada, go on cruises for a few days; and golf and fish.