Pharmacist recognized for 50 years of service

Pharmacist Loy Jackson of Manila was recognized by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy. He was awarded a Honorary Golden Certificate for his 50 years of dedicated service in the state of Arkansas.

Jackson grew up in the Milligan Ridge area, the son of Roe and Irene Jackson. His parents were early settlers moving to Milligan Ridge in 1938. He graduated from Manila High School in 1966 and after two years at Arkansas State University, he was accepted into pharmacy school at UAMS in Little Rock.

At the age of 22, he returned to Mississippi County and went to work at Highway Drug Store on Main and Division in Blytheville.

“I can thank Jerry Groves, Gary Thomas and Larry Skelton for allowing me to be involved in the new pharmacy, Delta Drug,” Jackson said. “They were my first partners. They bought Stahr Drug Store on Manila Main Street and let me be a partner. Right after that, they purchased the second pharmacy in town, Austin’s Drug Store.”

That was in 1971 and the rest is history. He went on to become the sole owner of Delta Drug. It was later relocated to the bypass and is still operated today by Jackson’s children.

Jackson retired in 2019 and had sold the business to his children, Matthew, Jeremy and Faith, in 2013. All three of his children followed in his footsteps becoming pharmacists. They all grew up in the business starting working the counters during their teenage years.

Jackson said going to Little Rock from Milligan Ridge was a culture shock.

“I went from the cotton patch to the big city,” Jackson said. “I only got to come home about every six weeks. We started out with 47 in our class and I am not sure how many we had when we graduated. In those days, Little Rock seemed a lot farther from Manila than it does today.”

Jackson said he enjoyed his years at Delta Drug and is pleased that he had the opportunity to work in his hometown. He has made a lot of friends and has a lot of great memories.

“When we were downtown, people would come in to visit and pass the time even if they did not need anything,” Jackson said. “Mr. Borowsky, owner of Tiger Levine’s, would come in most afternoons and have a soda. I really enjoyed the stories he shared.”

He still visits the store occasionally but he is enjoying retirement.