Bartell Drugs COO Receives Harold W. Pratt Award at NACDS

Ed Littleton, long-time industry leader and chief operating officer at Bartell Drugs, received the Harold W. Pratt Award during the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) 2011 Pharmacy & Technology Conference, held earlier this week in Boston.

Littleton, who has spent more than 40 years in the industry, was recognized for his continuing dedication to pharmacy. A graduate of Washington State University College of Pharmacy, Littleton has spent the last 20 years with Seattle-based Bartell Drugs. Prior to that, he worked for Pay ‘n Save for 22 years.

Harold W. Pratt—for whom the award is named—dedicated himself to many years of service at Walgreens, becoming the industry’s first director of professional services. Over the course of his 43 years of service to Walgreens, Pratt came to be recognized as the “Dean” of pharmacy professional service directors, and worked to grow and promote pharmacy operations. Pratt also served as chairman of the first NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference.

The annual award, which was established in 1985 by the NACDS Board of Directors, recognizes individuals whose activities have contributed to the promotion, recognition, and improvement of the practice of pharmacy within the chain drug industry. It is considered to be the association’s high honor.

During the presentation of the award, Robert D. Loeffler, H-E-B chief administrative officer and NACDS Chairman of the Board of Directors, read a comment from George D. Bartell, chairman CEOof The Bartell Drug Company, describing Littleton.

“There are few individuals as humble, considerate and as focused as Ed,” the statement read. “His wonderful sense of humor is an added bonus.”

Loeffler noted in his remarks, “NACDS is absolutely honored to present the distinguished Harold W. Pratt Award to Ed Littleton. He has always devoted his full energy to the business, to serving our customers and supporting the employees we count on to deliver that service--in our pharmacies and in the rest of the business. He has continually tried to learn how to improve the practice of pharmacy and has always been willing to share.”