ESTEVAN — It's been quite a career for Larry Preddy as a pharmacist in Estevan.
Preddy, who has spent most of his life in the Estevan area, announced recently that he was retiring, effective June 30. He started his pharmacy career at the Estevan Co-op (now the Â鶹´«Ã½AVern Plains Co-op) in 1969 after he graduated. Then he went to the White Cross Pharmacy, which was located on Fourth Street in downtown Estevan, for a few years. From there, he went to Saskatoon to work for Federated Co-operative Ltd. as a drug merchandising supervisor.
"I got sick of travelling, so I moved back to Estevan and I worked for White Cross for a while. White Cross ran into some financial difficulties, so Bi-Rite Drugs bought them out," Preddy recalled in an interview with Â鶹´«Ã½AV.
He didn't like working for Bi-Rite, so Preddy and Allen Miller came together and purchased Henders Drugs from Dick Henders; the deal took effect Jan. 1, 1985. Preddy and Miller owned the business, located on Fourth Street, until this past May, when they sold it to Kristen Cote. (Â鶹´«Ã½AV will have a story in the near future on the sale).
"Allen and I owned Henders for 40 years and four months," Preddy said proudly.
Preddy remained a pharmacist after the sale but didn't renew his licence for the 2025-26 year, so his final day was June 30. He thought it was time to retire, take some time off and let someone else carry the load. A lot of people have stepped forward to congratulate him on his career since he announced his decision.
"People seemed to wish me well, and I wished them well."
He recalled that halfway through Grade 12, he was going to be a geologist, but changed his mind and opted for pharmacy. He can't recall why he had the change of heart, but he's glad he went with his chosen career path.
"I enjoyed my co-workers and I enjoyed my customers," he said.
As with any industry, there have been a lot of changes since 1969. Preddy recalled that when he first started, he didn't have any computers.
"You typed your labels out by hand, and there really wasn't a record-keeping system. It's changed big-time over the years."
Preddy will continue with his commitments to the Woodlawn Regional Park. He is the chairman of the park's authority and he volunteers by cutting grass at the park.
