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The Altoona area business community lost one of its leaders with the passing of Bill Thompson.
William D. Thompson Jr., 81, Hollidaysburg, died Monday at his home.
Thompson founded Thompson Pharmacy in 1965 when he bought Meek Drug Store in Juniata from Daniel Meek. Over the years, Thompson Pharmacy grew to multiple locations and became one of the state's largest long-term care pharmacy providers.
Thompson won numerous awards over the years.
In 2004, he was named a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, and in 2014 he was named winner of Blair County Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.
"Bill Thompson was one of those rare individuals who you genuinely enjoyed running into, especially if your day wasn't going particularly well," said chamber President/CEO Joe Hurd. "His infectious smile and ornery personality always brought out the best in people. From a business standpoint, Bill knew the pharmacy industry backward and forward. The growth of Thompson Pharmacy was a tribute to Bill's willingness to take risks and his understanding of what the local community needed and expected from its health-care providers."
Longtime friend Barry Wright, retired banker and former Blair County commissioner, said Thompson was a leader by example.
"He was involved wherever he could get involved. He was just a leader and innovator in his profession," Wright said. "He was such a great individual, and he made everybody laugh. Once he met someone, he made them a friend. He was benevolent his entire life. He took care of his customers and his friends any way he could help them. He touched so many lives. He is truly going to be missed."
For 46 years Thompson served as treasurer and vice president of Value Drug, which was formed in 1934 as a cooperative of 19 independent pharmacists in Altoona to consolidate their purchasing power.
Value Drug President Greg Drew called Thompson "one of the most amazing men" he ever met.
"He was always a champion of the independent community pharmacy," Drew said. "He would teach people what he knew to make them better. He was also a wonderful family man and a giant in the business community. He always had a quick joke, but he was serious when he needed to be serious. The sharing and selflessness with which he helped others was timeless."
Retired educator Tom Foose was a childhood friend.
"We grew up together in Juniata," Foose said. "I first met Bill when I was 8, and he was 7. We played behind the old firehall on Eighth Avenue."
Foose said Thompson started working for Meek when he was 16.
"We used to tease him," Foose said. "We played baseball in the Federation, but he couldn't play because he had to work at night. Once we were able to drive, we would go up and down 11th and 12th avenue looking for girls. He couldn't go, he had to work."
Foose said Thompson was an outstanding businessman.
"He was so good to his customers," he said. "He knew everybody by their first name. If they had issues, he would say 'Don't worry.' He got along with everybody in the business community because of his personality."
Rex Kaup, lead partner in Young, Oakes, Brown and Co., said Thompson was a good friend.
"I always felt he was an older brother to me because he taught me a lot of life lessons," Kaup said. "Like everyone who knew him, he is and will be unforgettable. Our business relationship started over 30 years ago, and we quickly developed a strong personal friendship."
There will be a visitation from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Trinity Lutheran Church, 408 N. Sixth St., Juniata, where a private funeral service will be held Thursday. Interment will be at Alto Reste Park.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.