Ed Horton Named 2013 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year

PRESS RELEASE

Orlando, FL (Oct. 13, 2013) — Ed Horton, RPh, owner of Tanglewood Pharmacy and Medical Supplies in Stephenville, Texas, has been named the 2013 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year. The award is sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. Horton received his award on Sunday, October 13 during the First General Session of the 115th Annual NCPA Convention and Trade Exposition held October 12-16 in Orlando.

The Independent Pharmacist of the Year award recognizes an independent pharmacist for exemplary leadership and commitment to independent pharmacy and to their community. The award is named in honor of someone who exemplified these qualities: Willard B. Simmons, a former executive secretary of NCPA (then the National Association of Retail Druggists) and long-time NCPA Foundation trustee.

“We are proud to announce that Ed Horton is the 2013 NCPA Willard B Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year award winner,” said NCPA President Donnie Calhoun, RPh, a pharmacy owner in Anniston, Ala. “In addition to running a highly successful and award-winning pharmacy, Ed has consistently demonstrated strong leadership on behalf of local, state and national associations as a founding member of the Alliance of Independent Pharmacists of Texas and in his assistance to pharmacy students.”

Horton received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Houston in 1974, where he was one of three students who participated in a pilot rotational program, which has since become the norm in pharmacy schools throughout the United States. Horton became owner of the Kemp Family Pharmacy the next year. In 1985 he sold the pharmacy to move back to West Texas where he was raised. In 1986, he opened Tanglewood Pharmacy and Medical Supplies, which today includes walk-in patients, institutional care, drug rehabilitation facilities, mentally handicapped facilities, hospice care, home infusion, compounding and hormone replacement therapy. Horton gained a reputation as a pioneer in the industry for the extremely effective way in which he interacted with patients about the importance of their medications and how to utilize them properly. His pharmacy has been voted the best pharmacy in Erath County every year since 1997 by readers of the Stephenville Empire Tribune, and he was also voted the best pharmacist in 2002.

In addition to his pharmacy practice and membership, among other things, Horton is a member of NCPA, the Texas Pharmacy Association (where he served as their Director from 2002-2005 and President for 2007-2008), the American Pharmacists Association and the Alliance of Independent Pharmacists of Texas (where he currently is on its Board of Directors).

“On behalf of Upsher-Smith, I commend Ed Horton for his commitment to excellence in serving patients. Mr. Horton is truly an asset to his community, and patients in Stephenville benefit from his knowledge and expertise,” said Tom Burke, COO of Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. “Upsher-Smith was founded by a pharmacist, and we have a great deal of respect for the impact community pharmacists have on their patients. Mr. Horton is a tremendous example of how community pharmacists throughout the country are working tirelessly to serve patients.