Jacob Marz is new manager at Thrifty White Pharmacy

“I appreciate the opportunity to come back to my home community,” said Jacob Marz, who began work last week as manager of Springfield Thrifty White Pharmacy. 

“I grew up here and remember going to the old drug store on Main Street and seeing Jay Drury on what seemed to be a big mountain behind the pharmacy counter,” Marz said during a recent interview.   “I’m thankful for Jay guiding me as I learned and did my internship in his store, and now for the opportunity to take over his store.”

Marz, a 2003 graduate of Springfield High School, earned his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from South Dakota State University in 2009.

During high school when considering a career choice, he was encouraged by a cousin pharmacist to explore pharmacy.  “I enjoyed helping people. My Mom told me to use my head,” he said. “That was good advice and seemed to be a good fit.”  Once interested in pharmacy as a career, Marz reached out to Drury, who became his mentor.  They developed a friendship and Marz respected Drury’s advice as  he “shadowed” him during his internship in the local pharmacy. 

 “I liked the company (Thrifty White Pharmacy),” Marz said, and after his internship he was offered a job with the company in Montevideo. “I would dream about someday owning my own drugstore but, once working, I learned  that owning a store of one’s own is a challenge,” he said.    However, he did, indicate to the company’s district manager that one day when Drury would retire, he would like to know details of the job. 

See complete story in this week's issue of the Springfield Advance-Press.