Crowders Healthcare Pharmacy is owned and operated by Ralph Anderson, R.Ph. Anderson began his career in Lafayette, Ind., delivering prescriptions and sundries on a bicycle.  “One of my primary duties was cleaning all the pharmacy utensils using a box of sawdust as a cleaning compound,” he remembers. After graduating from pharmacy school in 1956, Anderson wanted to own a pharmacy, but had no money, no assets, no credit, and no experience. After six months he found his current store in Bedford, where the owner had died and the widow was desperate for a pharmacist. He was able to buy an older store with no money down on contract. Anderson and his wife lived above the store in a small apartment. They had two employees and his wife took deliveries with their kids in a station wagon.  “My wife and I have five children and eight grandchildren and most of them are involved directly or indirectly in the business and some of our pharmacists are co-owners.”

Several family members are still actively involved in the business, including:
Ralph E. Anderson, Pharmacist
Steve M. Anderson, Pharmacist
Joshua M. Anderson, Pharmacist
Carol Anderson Harris, Insurance Billing Supervisor
Ann Anderson Garrison, VP of Operations

When asked to describe what makes an effective community pharmacist, Anderson says it was “somebody who puts customer service first. The effective pharmacist is surrounded by loyal, dedicated employees that share the goals of helping the patient with the many problems in all phases of today’s health care. The pharmacist needs to be involved in community activities and active in local, state, and national pharmacy organizations.”