William "Bill" Boulden Honored

William "Bill" Boulden (center), pictured with Dean Vandel (left) and Roland Ahlbrandt during the October 2008 Alumni Reception honoring the Class of 1958.

William "Bill" Boulden, class of 1958, was recently honored as the 2009 Wyoming Health-Systems Pharmacist of the Year. This award is given by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and the Wyoming Society of Health-Systems Pharmacy. Bill received this honor because of his years of dedication to the practice of pharmacy in rural/frontier Wyoming. This type of practice involves the integration of practice sites into a single daily practice. Recognition of his role in the Health-System was given in 2000 when he received the coveted Dr. Virgil L. Thorpe Caring for Mankind award. This award is given by the Weston County Health Services in recognition of one who made a significant contribution to the improvement of patient care. Bill has always enjoyed his career as a pharmacist and he was once described as "a quiet personality with an exuberant humor," a quality necessary for integrating the numerous roles.

Bill's story truly reflects this type of practice. When Bill began work at the Weston County Drug Store as a soda jerk in his high school years, little did he know that he would spend his working career as a pharmacist, both in retail and in the hospital setting. After graduation from the University of Wyoming Pharmacy College, he returned to the Weston County Drug in his hometown of Newcastle. Eventually he became manager and began buying shares of stock in the business. When his mentor, B.W. Vandine, died, Bill became the majority stockholder. During most of this time, he also was responsible for the Drug Utilization Review at the Weston County Memorial Hospital. He was called the "phantom pharmacist" as he did most the DUR in the evening and night hours. In 1990, he decided to liquidate the merchandise part of the store and sell the pharmacy. Jeff Silbaugh, class of 1975 and his partner in the store, bought the pharmacy and continued to operate it in a different location. Bill and his wife moved to Gillette where Bill worked for Tom Murphy for a couple of years before Tom sold the drive-through pharmacy in which Bill was working. In August of 1992, Bill began working for the Weston County Health Services in Newcastle, as well as the local Pamida store. Since his retirement in 2002, he has been a relief pharmacist locally as well as various places in Wyoming.

Bill reflects the complete citizen and pharmacist by being active in community affairs. He was instrumental in starting the first public day care in Newcastle and also the first community United Fund. He belonged to the Newcastle Jaycees and received several awards, namely the Distinguished Service Award, the Boss of the Year and a Lifetime Membership Award. He spent several years on the local school board and also served on the Alumni Board of the University of Wyoming. He is also a member of the Lions Club.

He has been married to Lois Ann Joslyn for almost 55 years and is the father of three girls (two are Wyoming graduates): Billie Ann Reed (Larry) of Douglas, Jeri Cay Lampert (Owen) of Riverton and Kelli Jo Carmichael (Deo) of Casper. There are also seven grandchildren (two Wyoming graduates and two currently enrolled; one is studying pharmacy at the present time) and two great-grandchildren. His hobbies are bridge, gardening, photography, snowmobiling and traveling.

Posted on Friday, August 28, 2009