Bob Betti
License Issued 1961

President Weisser recognized Bob Betti from Santa Cruz.  Dr. Kajioka presented Mr. Betti with a 50-year pin.  Mr. Betti graduated from the University of Pacific, School of Pharmacy in 1961 and was the owner of Escawn Drug from 1969 to 2002.  Mr. Betti is currently still working as the pharmacy manager at Rite Aid Pharmacy in Santa Cruz.

Forest Van Vleck
License Issued 1961

President Weisser recognized Forest Van Vleck from Novato.  Dr. Kajioka presented Mr. Vleck with a 50-year pin.  Mr. Van Vleck shared that he began his practice as a pharmacist in Mill Valley, worked with Long’s for six years, and worked as a pharmacy manager for Safeway in Santa Rosa until his retirement.

John Magaudda
License Issued 1961

President Weisser recognized Mr. Magaudda for his years as a licensed pharmacist.  Mr. Magaudda was presented with a 50-year pin.

Tom Barnett
License Issued 1958

President Weisser recognized Tom Barnett for his years as a licensed pharmacist.  Mr. Barnett was presented with a 50-year pin.

Wayne Mallouf
License Issued 1961

President Weisser recognized Wayne Mallouf.  Mr. Mallouf was presented with a 50-year pin by his wife, Jaclyn Mallouf.

Kenneth O. Wedul
License Issued 1961

Kenneth O. Wedul graduated from North Dakota State University in 1956 and became a licensed pharmacist in California in 1961. He has owned ten stores in Orange County and is currently employed at Leisure World Pharmacy in Seal Beach.

Charles A. Beazell
License Issued 1960

After graduating from the University of Colorado, Charles A. Beazell worked as a pharmacist at Thrifty Drug and Corner Drug in Woodland, California.

Willard B. Henry
License Issued 1960

The owner of three pharmacies during his career, Dr. Willard B. Henry graduated from UCSF in 1961.

Donald F. Lee
License Issued 1960

Donald F. Lee owned his own pharmacy for 30 years and also became a hospital pharmacist. In 1980, he was recognized as the Orange County Pharmacist of the Year.

George W. Mac Murphey
License Issued 1959

After graduating from University of the Pacific in 1959, Mr. George W. Mac Murphey operated independent pharmacies for nearly 30 years.

Don Rey Myers
License Issued 1960

Don Rey Myers graduated from the University of Utah in 1960 and worked as a community pharmacist for 14years, a hospital pharmacist for 25 years, and is still working in community pharmacy.

George H. Pennebaker
License Issued 1960

George H. Pennebaker was the first pharmacy consultant for the Medi-Cal program and served as president of the California Pharmacists Association. Pennebaker recognized fellow pharmacist and son, Tim Cutler.

Howard L. Strause
License Issued 1960

Howard L. Strause, owner and operator of Neighborhood Pharmacy, also worked in assisted living and skilled nursing pharmacies, and is still practicing today.

Harvey K. Swenson
License Issued 1960

Upon graduating from the University of Utah, Harvey K. Swenson worked in a variety of pharmacy settings that included retail, hospital, long term care, and the Department of Health.

Donald J. Sabol
License Issued 1959

Dr. Kajioka spent five years in the air force and is a graduate of Drake University. Mr. Sabol’s career in pharmacy began at Horton’s and Converse. He later became the pharmacy director at Conejo Valley Hospital, opened three pharmacies, started home infusion, and is now currently with CVS. Mr. Sabol highlighted some of the changes he has seen throughout his career as a pharmacist.

Dale Barker
License Issued 1959

Mr. Barker highlighted some of the changes he has seen throughout his career as a pharmacist and offered encouragement for young pharmacists.

Ernest Dokimos
License Issued 1959

Mr. Dokimos stated that choosing pharmacy was one of the best decisions he has made in his life. Mr. Dokimos owned his own pharmacy, worked for a chain store, and now helps his two sons who own their own independent pharmacies.

William Econome
License Issued 1957

Mr. Econome graduated from Idaho State University. He first worked in a pharmacy at the age of 14 when it became his dream to become a pharmacist. Mr. Econome highlighted some of the advantages of owning his own store.

Joseph Jacob
License Issued 1959

Mr. Jacob owned five pharmacies in San Diego, was a staff pharmacist for Kaiser Permanente for seven years, and was the chief pharmacist at Cal State, San Marcos for eight years.

Eliseo Samaniego
License Issued 1960

Mr. Samaniego first considered becoming a pharmacist as a freshman in high school. Mr. Samaniego discussed some of the highlights of his career.

Danny Chan
License Issued 1959

Mr. Chan, a graduate of the University of Utah, was employed at Thrifty Drugstores for 34 years.

Jimmie Choi
License Issued 1959

Mr. Choi was presented with the 50-year pharmacist pin by President Schell. Mr. Choi noted that he had graduated from the University of Washington in 1954, served two years in Korea, and owned his own pharmacy for 23 years.

Katherine Owyoung
License Issued 1959

Ms. Owyoung was the only female in the first graduating class of the University of the Pacific in 1959. Ms. Owyoung was employed for 40 years at St. Joseph Hospital where she served as director of pharmacy.

Richard Mortensen
License Issued 1959

Mr. Mortensen, a graduate of Idaho State University, reviewed the enjoyment he experienced throughout his years as a pharmacist and commended the new pharmacists who are entering the practice.

Vernon Mah
License Issued 1959

Mr. Mah shared that he comes from a family of pharmacists. He highlighted some of the changes in pharmacy and stated that overall; the changes that have been made are good. Mr. Mah encouraged the board to decrease regulations to allow pharmacists to work more with the public.

Nelly Nigro
License Issued 1948

Ms. Nigro stated that the profession has been quite a journey and shared that she was one of three women from her graduating class.

Thomas Barnett
License Issued 1958

Mr. Barnett followed his farther into the profession. He has been a pharmacist his whole adult life and has worked for Drug Fair, Thrifty, and Vons. Mr. Barnett owned his own pharmacy in Oakhurst, California for 10 years and has participated in a variety of civic activities.

Mr. Barnett thanked the board for its recognition.

William B. Ratzlaff
License Issued 1949

Mr. Ratzlaff noted that his career in pharmacy began when he was a teen-ager, washing a drug store’s windows, sweeping floors and delivering prescriptions. After graduating from USC, he moved to Santa Rosa in 1951 where he still works at the Sonoma Development Center.

Harry C. Pfeifer, Jr.
License Issued 1958

Mr. Pfeifer related that he graduated from Ferris State College in Michigan in 1952. After a tour in the Navy, he returned to California. Most of his career has been with Long’s, which is now CVS/Caremark and he is still working two days a week.

Richard Franklin
License Issued 1950

Clarence Hiura
License Issued 1958

"I want the students to know that this is what happens after 50 years. I encourage you to get involved because the board members have learned so much within their positions and duties. I want to thank the board. I have served 4 four-year terms since 1979, appointed by various governors. If it wasn't for the support that I have from my family I could not have done this. Thank you all very much."

Gregory G. Roumpos
License Issued 1958

“I would like to thank the state of California for the great honor. I thank God for keeping me healthy and allowing me to continue to work for more than 50 years. We have the best profession, which I am proud of, and which has done a good job for the health of the people of America.”

Fred Startz
License Issued 1958

“This is a real honor.  This is very exciting and I would like to thank everyone.”

W. Alvin Thunquest
License Issued 1958

“I would like to thank the board for this opportunity to be here today. 55 years ago Loma Linda offered me a scholarship due to the shortage of pharmacists back then. Although we may still have one, it seems that we are addressing the issue with the new schools of pharmacy coming in.” 

Leo Eugene Ward
License Issued 1958

“I really enjoyed being a pharmacist for 50 years. I have a small pharmacy. I spent a year and a half as a pharmacist and was told I should be a owner. I bought a store for $20,000 and sold it for $500,000. It’s still going strong, filling about 300-400 scripts a day.  I received a lot of honors, including receiving the key to the city, being awarded citizen of the year, and being grand marshall in a parade. I really had a ball being a pharmacist.” 

Barry Solomon
License Issued 1958

"I thank you and hope to be here for the 100th year."

Joseph Aboaf
License Issued 1958

Mr. Aboaf is 73 and feels active and healthy, and said he will never retire until he has to. He worked in 47 different Costco locations over a period of 13 years.

Arthur Davis
License Issued 1953

Mr. Davis thanked the Board for its recognition of his work. He has worked for Thrifty Drugs for 35 years and is a member of both CPhA and ACPhA.

John Kurilich
License Issued 1952

Mr. Kurilich has owned an idepended pharmacy and served as pharmacist in other independed and chain pharmacies. He thanked the Board for this recognition and mentioned that he was honored to attend and able to see what the Board accomplishes during its meetings.

Milt Levinson
License Issued 1957

Mr. Levinson was honored at the meeting by the reading of a personal letter written for the occasion by former Pharmacy Board president, Robert Elsner. Mr. Elsner wrote, in part, that Mr. Levinson epitomized the ideals of professionalism for pharmacies and pharmacists and that he considered Mr. Levinson an asset not only to the profession of pharmacy but also to the community.

Milton Bardovi
License Issued 1950

Mr. Bardovi was employed for 31 years at Sav-On Drugs and four years at Whelan Drug Co. and remarked that those 50 years as a pharmacist went by very fast. Mr. Bardovi recommended to the audience to just have integrity and do a good job.

Eugene Elkin
License Issued 1955

Mr. Elkin has been active in CPhA throughout his career and was elected past president in 1980 and "Pharmacist of the Year" by that association. Mr Elkin operated Kustner's Pharmacy for almost 40 years and worked the last 10 years in long-term care.

Joseph Hirt
License Issued 1957

Mr. Hirt worked as a research pharmacist at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where he developed non-commercial items such as nitroglycerin IV and hyperalimentaion nutritional products. Mr. Hirt commented that the thing he was most proud of during his years as a pharmacist was the positive impact of his influence on fellow employees to change their lives regarding alcohol, drug and tobacco addiction.

James Hoppe
License Issued 1952

Mr. Hoppe began his practice with Malloy Prescription Pharmacy and is presently employed at Gemmel Pharmacy of Ontario, where he has been since 1957. Mr. Hoppe noted, "It's been a wonderful 55 years!"

Ronald Marantz
License Issued 1957

Dr. Marantz remembered graduating from college and beginning his career when a woman came into the store and said, " A punk like you? A doctor?" He always rememberd that, and learned to have a lot of patience with the public. Dr. Marantz has been married for 50 years, has two sons, and is still saving lives!

Emil Marcarian
License Issued 1957

Dr. Marcarian served as manager and director of hospital pharmacies, infusion companies, and in the retail environment. He described it all as a "great experience."

Melvin F. Baron
License Issued 1957

"To my family, colleagues, students and patients, thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to practice this wonderful profession of pharmacy."

Richard Fox
License Issued 1956

"I have watched lots of changes over the years, both good and bad."

Richard Rogers
License Issued 1956

"It has been a fast 50 years. I hope and wish the students here have as good a 50 years as I did."

William Stenberg
License Issued 1956

"It has been a privilege and a pleasure. I appreciate this recognition."

Richard K. Wayland
License Issued 1956