Overturf had its beginning when Mr. V. R. Overturf purchased a drug
store in Malden, Missouri in 1948. Mr. Overturf was from Steele, Missouri, and
had been employed by Bell Telephone for a number of years. Although not a
pharmacist, he was a very personable fellow as well as a good businessman and
the store flourished under his ownership. At this time, the store maintained a
very active soda fountain. Many local residents were disappointed when the
store moved to a new location and the fountain was no longer in operation.
In 1960, Malden native Joe Mosley became an employee of Overturf.
Mr. Mosley had received his pharmacy degree from the St. Louis College of
Pharmacy. In 1962, after only two years of service, he became a partner in the
business.
In 1963, another Overturf was established, this time in Bernie, Missouri,
at 110 Main Street. In 1965, Tom Burris was employed at this location. Mr.
Burris was a pharmacist from Kentucky who had earned his pharmacy degree at the
University of Tennessee. The store relocated to 116 S. Walnut in 1978.
In 1966, Ronnie Reams was employed at the Malden location. Mr. Reams
attended high school in Bernie and received his pharmacy degree from the
University of Arkansas.
The Dexter store got its start in 1973, when the Dexter Cut-Rate Drug
Store was purchased from Archie Parker. The store moved to its present location
in 1976. Noel Botsch of Bernie was chief pharmacist until he sold his interest
in the company and moved to Cape Girardeau in 1990.
Overturf operated a pharmacy on Main Street in Poplar Bluff from 1978 to
1983 and Midtown Health Mart in Dexter at 223 N. Walnut from 1983-1987.
Overturf also operated a pharmacy in the Dexter Doctor's Park area for a
nine-month period from 1985-1986 and a Health Mart store in Portageville from
1985-1989.
From 1987-1990, Overturf operated an O.P.T.I.O.N. Care Home Infusion
Franchise at the Dexter store and a second location at Doctor's Park in Cape
Girardeau. Overturf's interest in O.P.T.I.O.N. Care ceased in 1990 when Mr.
Botsch moved to Cape Girardeau.
In 1988, Randy Speck of Dexter joined the Dexter Overturf staff as a
pharmacist. He holds a pharmacy degree from Northeast Louisiana University.
Westley Simmons, of Bernie, and Bryan Harris, of Malden, were employed by
Overturf in 1990. Both received their pharmacy degrees from the University of
Missouri at Kansas City, Missouri.
Until 1991, Durable Medical Equipment (DME) was promoted and billed
through each individual store. In 1991, however, the equipment and related
supplies were combined and moved to the Dexter Overturf location. The DME department
has expanded steadily over the last several years.
