Comment
Print
John with his front end manager, Susan Stewart.
This is the story about a man who is a local product and has emerged as a shinning example of what a person, when truly focused, can accomplish.
John was born July 29, 1966 and raised in Rutherford County. He is the only child of Harlen and Barbara Higgins and a member of Spindale United Methodist Church. He says "I was raised in that church. I grew up in my church." He definitely believes that an abundant life is a spiritual life. Yes, without a doubt, that definitely applies to John. He is driven by his spiritual life every day and in everything he does. The result is an ongoing accomplishment that should be used to motivate and give belief to any and all who want to achieve.
John graduated from R-S Central, Isothermal Community College and Campbell College. Today, he is a pharmacist who, after graduation from Campbell University, College of Pharmacy in 1990, went to work at Smith's Drugs in Forest City. While at ICC John met Stephanie Cole in a religious class. She became a school teacher and worked with Head Start. However, today, she is a certified compound technician at Smith Drugs. On May 15, 1993 John married Stephanie at his beloved Spindale United Methodist Church. They have a son, John Cole who is 12 years old.
In the year, 2000, John bought Smith's Drugs. What happens after that is almost unbelievable! The quiet man with a winning smile, still wanted to serve the community where he grew up.
At the time, Forest City was not the bustling town it once was. One might say it was spiraling downward. John witnessed empty stores on Main Street. In 2001 he saw the closing of the economic core of the town, the Cole Mill/Florence plant. The town had been built around this mill. People were out of work. In other towns, down town drug stores were closing. Among this setting, the new owner of Smith's Drug Store had faith, foresight and began moving forward. He made a local favorite - The Fountain at Smith's - even more popular. He made himself available to the people in the community that needed his help. It is not unusual for John to go to Smith's late at night after closing or on a Sunday and fill a prescription for someone in need. He supports everything good for the community. The day I interviewed John, a lady came up to him and said her prescription for a refill had not yet been received at Smith's. John told her he would take care of it and did. She went home with what she needed. This is an example of the usual, not the unusual for John.
He began putting a new face at Smith Drugs. He started providing home medical equipment, patient care services, compounding custom prescriptions, in home services, if needed 24 hours a day, and more, all designed to serve the community. In 2005 he totally remodeled the interior of Smith's. I personally can remember some people who thought Forest City was a dying town. They thought for owner, John Higgins, to spend all the money on a major remodeling was not the wisest move. The skeptics soon changed their minds. Then, John hired a front end manager, Susan Stewart, who with a passion, redid the fountain menu, gift shop, home needs and everything up front in the store. The result is that Smith's now has three times the seating at the fountain and a very attractive and expanded menu. It is an ongoing project and challenge. Susan will be very quick to tell you how much she loves her job. About her boss, she will simply say: "He's a humble, Godly man that truly cares about people."
Today, there is a revitalization going on. The anchor and forerunner of the new spirit in Forest City can be solely attributed to the man who loves his town and its' people. John and his Smith Drugs family has set the example for others to follow.
When many gave up, John moved forward. Presently his medical services are in both North and South Carolina. Seven counties in North Carolina and three in South Carolina and he now has a staff of 55. What is one of his biggest assets? Besides his faith, it has to be his staff. They are always eager to please and not only accommodating, but pleasant and refreshing.
