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comparable why not go to a place you can trust with people in the community,” Wall said.
Julie McCombs
Don Wall and Jed, his son, are celebrating the 90th anniversary of McLeskey-Todd Pharmacy Saturday. Don took ownership of the business last year and Jed is general manager at the store at 107 N. Main Street.
Julie McCombs
Don and Jed Wall share their love for the outdoors as avid hunters. Both have trophies of their adventures that have taken them across the U.S. and to Africa.
Jim Fair
Greer High grads are invited to visit McCleskey-Todd Pharmacy this week to pick up tickets to the hot dog cookout Saturday at the store's parking lot. The Walls are celebrating the pharmacy's 90th anniversary, in concert with Greer High Oldies, and customer appreciation from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Call 877-0753 for more information.
Julie McCombs
Don Wall is an avid hunter of mountain sheep, that takes him all over the world. The pins on the map mark the many places he has traveled to fish and hunt.
Wall keeps his drug costs down by dealing with independents like Smith Drug Company in Spartanburg.
“Family pharmacy is taking care of somebody’s family with healthcare. I never realized the interactive role a pharmacist plays,” said Jed.
The biggest issue facing their customers is, “Insurance, plain and simple,” said Jed. “It’s just not what they (insurance companies) do with us but what they do with patients. We’re learning ways to work around them.”
The proliferation of diabetes is a disease that Jed believes threatens to proliferate healthcare costs. “I think until we manage our time better, eat out less and not eat prepackaged food, we will see continued health costs rise. It’s going to take public education to teach society how to eat healthy.”
Jed, at one point, didn’t visualize his place as the next Wall generation carrying on the family business. “I had to be re-disciplined at pharmacy school and I realized I had an opportunity that most people don’t have working in a successful family business.”
He studied English for most of his undergraduate degree, took a year off and worked at Greenville’s Kash & Karry harmacy as a technician. “I thoroughly enjoyed it and talked to people about their healthcare issues and coming up with solutions. That is when I started to think about getting into the family business.”
This is Jed’s 15th year working with his father and first as general manager at McLeskey-Todd. His philosophy is much like his father’s: “We have intelligent management and employees, keep our overhead low and customer service is number one.”
Jed Wall said there is no temptation to follow brands offering services at a boutique clinic at his pharmacy. “Actually we are doing immunizations but we’ve not looked at a nurse practitioner just because we don’t see the need. People can go to a minute clinic. Our business model says stay true to who we are and what we do. I get my business sense from my dad.”
The father-son bond developed over time during hunting trips that lasted weeks and ventured as far as Africa. While Don tracks hard-to-find mountain sheep, Jed enjoys fishing. The reminders of their trips together are mounted on walls and accompanied by mesmerizing storytelling.
“Hunting more than anything drew us together,” Jed said. “It’s easy to think about business in one way, but when you are dependent on your wits outdoors in extreme conditions you learn the value of teamwork.”
Jed said his son, Lucas, 12, has indicated he would like to follow his father’s footsteps, much like his grandfather’s. “I don’t encourage it or discourage it,” Jed said. “I want Lucas to make his own decision in life. And if he can fit that role (pharmacist) I will do my best to help him. I want my children (Sophie, 10, Violet, 8) to have a career that makes them happy.”
Wall said there hasn’t been any thought of replacing McLeskey-Todd with his family’s name on the signage. “When we got involved in the newer business we wanted to keep the recognizable aspect of the name. I wouldn’t want my name on it. It’s recognized as McLeskey-Todd and that’s where people have learned to do their business.”
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