Swift Drug Company marks 100 years
Published 6:37 pm Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Executive Director of the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce Sheryl Smedley presents Swift Drug Company owner Buddy Swift with a trophy marking the businesses’ 100th anniversary. Swift Drug was opened in October 1916.
By Alaina Denean Deshazo | The Selma Times-Journal
Swift Drug Company was full of people Wednesday as the store celebrated its centennial anniversary.
Buddy Swift wiped away tears while looking at the amount of people that came out to support him and his family-owned business.
“It’s just overwhelming. So many customers have been in today and thanked us,” Swift said. “We haven’t tried to get rich in the drug businesses. We’ve just tried to make a good living and tried to be good community stewards.”
Swift received several awards and proclamations during Wednesday’s festivities, including a proclamation from Congresswoman Terri Sewell.
“It’s an honor for me to be here, not only as a member of Congress representing the 7th Congressional District, but as a native of Selma to say to the Swift employees and the Swift family, thank you so much for all that you’ve done for the city of Selma and Dallas County community,” Sewell said. “What a great, awesome day it is to have a long serving family owned business still here in Selma, Alabama.”
U.S. Representative Terri Sewell presents Swift Drug Company owner Buddy Swift with a proclamation in honor of the businesses’ centennial anniversary.
Swift said he isn’t sure of the exact date that the store opened, but that it was in the third week of October 1916, and the first ad for the new business ran Oct. 29, 1916, in The Selma Times-Journal.
“Not many businesses in the country have made that milestone, so I’m just real honored and so proud of my ancestors who started the business and keeping it going that long,” Swift said.
Swift Drug Company was opened by Swift’s great-uncle, the late George A. Swift and later taken over by Buddy’s father, William P. Swift Jr., who then passed it on to him after he graduated from the University of Alabama.
Selma Mayor George Evans, Dallas County Commissioner Larry Nickles, Carolyn Dean with McKesson Pharmaceuticals, Main Street Selma Interim Director Jerria Martin and Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce executive director Sheryl Smedley all presented Swift with awards for his achievement.
Last week, Swift was also honored by the Alabama Retail Association.
“It’s all I can do to keep from crying right now,” Swift said. “I never expected it to be this big, I really didn’t.”
Swift said people were congratulating him, and even telling stories of their time doing business with Swift.
“I had a guy tell me just a few minutes ago that he remembers when his child was sick and had a hard time paying the bill, and we worked with him,” Swift said. “And we’ve done things like that over the years, and I think that’s what made our businesses successful.”
Smedley said having so many people come out to the event speaks well about the community and how they support their local businesses.
“This is a family-owned business, as many are here in Selma, where families have invested in our community to make it a better place to live, therefore giving back,” Smedley said.
Swift said that he hopes people will continue to support the drug store and all that they have worked for over the last 100 years.
“We’re not going to slow down. We’re going to continue to provide the same quality service that there’s always been,” Swift said.
