The 2019 Bell Tower of Fame winner has been announced.

Charlie Porter is this year’s recipient of the award, which recognizes people whose personal or professional accomplishments internationally, nationally or statewide, bring great pride to Greene County. Additionally, they must have resided in Greene County for a period during their lifetimes.

Porter is a 1965 Jefferson High School graduate who started what is now called Medicap Pharmacy with two other pharmacist partners. He began the company shortly after graduating from Drake University’s Pharmacy and Health Sciences College. It was first established as The Medicine Chest, then later called The Medicine Store, and finally called Medicap Pharmacies.

By 2003, Medicap Pharmacy had 200 facilities in 38 states, and had over $400 million in sales. It was also the first pharmacy to have drive-thru windows installed and private consultation rooms. Porter was the company’s president and chief operating officer before selling it to Cardinal Health in 2003.

Porter was honored by Drake University in 2005 with the Drake College of Pharmacy Alumni Achievement Award. He, along with his wife Pat, started the Porter Clinical Skills Center at Drake University. Its purpose is to enhance a student’s pharmacy abilities and help them acquire a diverse set of skills required of today’s pharmacists.

Porter will be recognized with the Bell Tower of Fame Award during the opening ceremonies of the Bell Tower Festival on Friday at 6:30pm on the southside of the Greene County Courthouse. A reception will follow inside the courthouse until 8:30.