When Ray Parr entered the retail pharmacy business with his father, Dart H.. Parr, back in 1947, there were four drug stores in downtown St. Johns.

Today five retail pharmacies exist within the city limits - but not one is sited downtown.

New trends in the shopping habits of consumers are among the many changes that the businessman, community leader, and respected family man has seen during his 77 years here - a lifetime of service.

"There have been some disappointments, but I'm encouraged - I can see good things happening," Parr says of his recent 'official' retirement from the business of filling prescriptions.

"Lots of exciting things are happening in the pharmacy profession as scientific knowledge continues to increase, but there's no doubt that the retail pharmacy business has suffered."

The fact that the family business that spanned four generations is counted among those casualties of change makes memories of the landmark Parr's Pharmacy store somewhat bittersweet.

Selling the business in January 1999 to Atlas Drugs and relocating to the current space inside the L&L grocery store at the Southpoint Mall was not an easy decision for Parr and his son, Jim, who became a partner with his father in 1973.

Still, positive experiences far outweigh the negative for the gentleman  who can't seem to escape from his professional environment despite the fact he's no longer behind the prescription counter.

"A lady called me at home just this past Sunday," Parr says with a smile, recalling her concern at learning her daughter had head lice. "She wanted to know what she should do - I told her the procedures and medications she needed to use.

"That's what I always enjoyed most about working at the store - meeting and helping people."

A lengthy list of service provides evidence of that fact, as does his continued involvement with the First Baptist Church, St. Johns Cemetery Association, and Clinton Area Care Center.

"I suppose I've served in almost every volunteer capacity at the church," Parr says, noting time spent as Sunday School superintendent, deacon, trustee, and on the building committee.

He served a term on the St. Johns City Commission in the late '70s, and was on the Clinton National Bank Board of Directors for 13 years before it became City Bank and then Citizen's Bank.

The most rewarding experiences came during his years on the St. Johns Board of Education (1957-77), and in 12 years on the CACC Board of Directors. That time period included the passage of the school bond issue that led to the construction of new rural elementary schools and the high school, and original building and expansion of Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor.

"The school bond passed by just 19 votes," Parr says, "but I'm sure there aren't many people today who don't think that was a good thing to do. In regard to the care center, with the addition of Clinton Commons, we have an excellent senior development here which will eventually pay for itself."

Those accomplishments pale in comparison to the family that Parr counts as his major blessing: his wife, Elma, who was a high school sweetheart; three children, Barbara, Marcia, and Jim; seven grandchildren - and the first great-grandchild that is expected in two weeks.

"We're real proud of our family - and can't wait to see that new great-grandchild," Ray says of his and Elma's offspring - none of whom so far are following in the Parr's 'pharmacy footsteps'.

"A good share of time is spent today in calling insurance companies about billing questions - regulations are changing all the time," Parr says of the profession, noting a disappointment in the failure so far by anyone to correct the problem.

"Insurance companies have not really looked into what it costs to actually fill a prescription."

Still, the veteran businessman is pleased to have been a part of the local scene for so many years. The expansion of the original Parr's Pharmacy on the corner of Walker and Clinton Avenue to include the former State Bank building more than doubled the size of the store.

"Our grand opening of the expanded store was memorable - but not for the reason we had originally intended," Parr recalls of the date - Nov. 22, 1963.

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy cast a pallor on the festive events.

"We ended up setting a radio outside the store and using the speaker system we had brought in for the grand opening to broadcast the live newscasts," Parr says.

Other memories of time spent filling prescriptions on Clinton Avenue are more upbeat.

"When I first graduated from the pharmacy college at the University of Michigan in 1947, there were two major developments in drugs: penicillin and the first high blood pressure medication," Parr says, noting that the form of penicillin used at the time required mixing by the pharmacist.

"Boy, did that stuff stink - I'll never forget that."

Although he's finally leaving the white pharmacy jacket in the closet, there's no lack of activity in the Parr's daily routine.

"It seems like we're busier than ever," he says. "I do a lot of reading and am still involved with several boards - and, of course, we're anxious to see the new great-grandchild."

Maybe there's one more pharmacist still to come in the Parr family.