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Ken Couch, President of JM Smith Corporation and Smith Drug Company, was presented
with United Way of the Piedmont's most prestigious award at the annual leadership
reception on Oct. 9th. The Morgan Award is presented annually to a volunteer for
their civic contribution that demonstrates a spirit of caring for the community.
“Even with his demanding professional life, Ken has made time for numerous community
activities,” stated Byrd Miller, chair of United Way of the
Piedmont
’s Board of Directors. He serves as a volunteer pharmacist at St. Luke Free
Clinic where he also served on the Board of Directors. He was Chairman of the
Board for two years with United Way of
Piedmont , President of the Rotary Club of Spartanburg
and served eight terms on the Board of Directors. He was past Chairman of Spartanburg
Alcohol
and Drug Abuse Commission, as well as Vice Chairman of The Cancer Association of
Spartanburg.
“Ken has demonstrated a tremendous dedication to excellence, both in his profession
and to his community. He walks the talk. The Morgan Award is inscribed with the words,
“One Who Cares” – Ken fits this description perfectly," stated Kathy Dunleavy,
President
and CEO of
United Way of the
Piedmont.
As a registered pharmacist, Couch is very active in the pharmacy profession
and has served the industry for 44 years. He has held numerous positions throughout
this time; serving as past President of the South Carolina Pharmacists Association
in 1983, named Pharmacist of the year for
South Carolina in 1999,
and received The Bowl of HYGEIA Award for community service for
South Carolina in 1978,
and Honorary Alumnus of Wingate University in 2004. This year
Wingate
University honored
and awarded Ken with the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his work with the
Wingate School of Pharmacy.
Couch is Chairman of the Board for the Healthcare Distribution Management Association
(HDMA)
and spends much of his time in
Washington
DC representing all major constituents of healthcare distribution. This is his
second appointment as Chairman of HDMA, the first being in 1999.
His Alumni activities at
University of
South Carolina include past President, two terms on the Pharmacy Partnership Board, Treasurer,
USC College of Pharmacy Alumni Association, eighteen years Regional Vice-President,
USC Alumni Association, President of Spartanburg County USC Alumni Association,
as well as Curriculum Advisory committee for USC College of Pharmacy.
Couch grew up in
Spartanburg ,
S.C.
and received a BS in Pharmacy from the
University of
South Carolina. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg where he has served
as a Deacon
and an Elder of the church. Couch is married to Susan Foster Couch, also a registered
pharmacist
and very active in the pharmacy industry
and community. They have three children, Melissa Couch Miller, Kelly,
and K. C. |
