Fruth Pharmacy unveils the Red Vest Award

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. -- Fruth Pharmacy has created a special award to recognize the retailer's most outstanding employees.

Employees who have performed life-saving measures and who are nominated through an extensive process will be receiving the Red Vest Award.  The award will be publicly displayed on the recipient, as he/she be given an actual red vest and a lapel pin with the vest symbol.

Corporate personnel wanted the award to be a visual award, so Fruth employees, customers, and patients will easily be able to identify an employee that has gone above and beyond for a patient’s health and well being.

Stores in both Athens and Pomeroy, Ohio have employees that have qualified this year for this new, special recognition.  Employees will also receive a certificate for display, as well as have their name placed on a group award at the corporate office under the “Red Vest Club”.  This award is planned to be an annual award given at the Fruth Employee Service Awards Banquet held each fall.

When Rebecca Church, an employee at Fruth Pharmacy in Athens, stooped to pick up a customer’s keys – she had no idea she soon would be calling emergency personnel.

Church noticed something was not right with the customer.  She asked him to sit down on a bench to talk with her.  He dropped his keys about 10 times.  Eventually, she was able to get the keys out of his reach.  As she continued to talk to him, his speech became unintelligible.  She quickly called for an ambulance.

The emergency squad arrived and EMTs strongly urged the patient to go to the hospital.  Later that evening, Fruth Pharmacy received a call from the patient’s wife letting the employees know he had been life-flighted to Columbus.  He had been suffering from a massive stroke.  The wife had called to thank the person who had helped to save her husband’s life.

“We are hearing more and more stories like this from our employees,” Teresa Stapleton, human resources manager for Fruth Pharmacy shared. “Employees who earn this award exemplify Mr. Fruth’s legacy of giving back to the community. This is what sets Fruth apart from our competitors.”

Fruth Pharmacy has been a family owned company for over 63 years.  Currently, Fruth Pharmacy has 29 stores in West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.