WarriorMagazineJanuary2021

Emily serves as a preceptor with the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and said she enjoys working with pharmacy students and introducing them to the independent pharmacy. She also volunteers her time to talk with local high school and elementary students about pharmacy. And as part of a community outreach, Emily and the staff at Wheeler Drug Story have held flu clinics for faculty and staff in the local schools, including East Central.

taught me to be resilient. And most importantly they taught me to have faith in God and showed me how to do that in their everyday lives.” Both Hal and Emily were active students during their East Central days. Emily was a member of the Centralettes danceline, Diamond Girls, Warrior Corps, Wesley Foundation, Mu Alpha Theta, and Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She served as a Student Body Association

As a former athlete who had to overcome several serious injuries, Hal has enjoyed providing physical therapy services for the local teams and helping them get back to being able to play the sport they love. He said, “I feel blessed to be in a profession where I can help others achieve that feeling every day.” Emily counts her family among the most influential people in her life and career and says it was not

officer, was selected a freshman homecoming maid, Homecoming Queen, and was named to the Student Hall of Fame. She said, “My best memories are living in the ‘new’ dorm our freshman year, living in House 18 with seven other girls, being a Centralette, getting to plan all the fun campus activities with the SBA, the beach trips Mr. Joe Killens (former Director of Student Life) and his wife, Mrs. Teri, would take

“ ” Hal and I met at East Central, so it has always been a special place to us. - Emily Decatur is a nice little town and it’s a great place to raise a family. - Hal

only the influence of those in the healthcare field, but also the family values and work ethic impressed upon her that have made the difference. “My parents and grandparents are the most influential people in my life,” she stated. “My paternal grandfather, Dr. Austin Boggan, was a doctor in Decatur for 50 years and my grandmother, Iris Boggan, was his nurse. My siblings and I grew up in the drug store and the clinic. We saw the

the SBA on, Warrior Corps trips to different schools, and making lifelong friendships with so many people. My twin sister, Natalie, and I also had the opportunity to travel to Europe the summer after we graduated with a group of EC students and faculty that was led by Ovid and Carol Vickers. That was a once in a lifelong trip.” Hal was a member of the East Central Baseball team and was named Most Valuable Offensive Player. He was also a member of the Wesley

impact they had on so many people and it’s hard not to want to continue that in any way possible. My maternal grandfather, Cecil Addy, was a dairy farmer and my grandmother, Lola Addy, was a phenomenal seamstress. Their dedication and work ethic always stood out and became engrained in us at an early age. My dad and mom raised us in a Christian home and taught us to always think of others first. I believe that’s the reason my siblings and I all have very service-oriented careers.” Hal also credits his parents for their positive influence and says they always motivated him to be the best in everything he did and gave him the confidence needed to achieve anything he set his mind to whether in sports or school. “They instilled in me a strong work ethic and

Foundation and was selected a Sophomore Class Favorite. Hal said, “I enjoyed the camaraderie of the baseball team and other athletes. Some of my favorite memories include hanging out in the dorms, the long bus rides to away games, and the long hours practicing baseball. “Of course, there were also many of Coach Clark’s crazy antics and sayings. We’d be breaking down on Fridays before a lot of us would travel home and he would close with ‘Now you go do that voodoo that you do so well.’ We never knew what was going to come of of his mouth, but it was mostly entertaining.” For the Thompsons, faith, family and commu- nity are most important and they feel privileged to have come full circle and be able to live and work in place that has meant so much to them.

Emily and Hal Thompson with their children, from left, Tyson, Hollis, Fletcher, and Callen.

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