2019 -- S 0921

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LC002720

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

THANKING HOWELL SMITH, III, AND THE GENERATIONS OF DEVOTED

PHARMACISTS, PHARMACY TECHNICIANS AND STAFF AT HOWELL SMITH

DRUGGIST FOR EIGHTY-TWO YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF

PAWTUCKET AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS

     Introduced By: Senators Cano, Ruggerio, Lombardi, Metts, and Lawson

     Date Introduced: May 29, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, More than eight decades ago, Howell J. Smith Sr., and Margaret Smith

opened the Howell Smith Druggist in the City of Pawtucket, complete with full prescription

dispensing services, various sundry items and a soda fountain "that drew in droves of young

people"; and

     WHEREAS, Howell Smith Druggist has always been a family-owned pharmacy,

originally opened in 1937 by Howell J. Smith, Sr. and Margaret Smith, and continued by Howell

J. Smith, II, and Janet Smith, as well as their dedicated manager, William Masse, and ultimately

led by the current pharmacist and President, Howell Smith, III, grandson of the founder, together

with his wife, Kristen Smith, his daughter, Emily Demers, his sister, Joyce Cote, his son, Howell

Smith, IV, who had worked at the business for a number of years, and Pharmacist Technician

John Bent; and

     WHEREAS, Located at the corner of Central and Newport Avenues, Howell Smith

Druggist began dispensing prescriptions and earning the trust of its customers, more than twenty-

five years before the CVS chain ever existed, but with the changing times and ever-increasing

demands of the health care business, the pharmacy was bought by and will transfer its

prescription customers to the nearby CVS; and

     WHEREAS, Howell Smith, III, recently stated, "It's incredible, the outpouring of

emotion and best wishes from all of my customers, customers coming in, telling me how long

they've been coming here"; and

     WHEREAS, The Pawtucket community is not only losing a longtime and dependable

business, but is also losing a trusted neighbor; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby thanks Howell Smith, III, and the generations of devoted pharmacists, pharmacy

technicians and staff at Howell Smith Druggist for eighty-two years of dedicated service to the

people of Pawtucket and surrounding neighborhoods; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Howell Smith, III.

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LC002720

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