ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — William Scharringhausen, a third-generation pharmacist/pharmacy owner from Park Ridge, Ill., was awarded the 2020 John W. Dargavel Medal by the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation as part of NCPA’s Annual Convention, which was held virtually.

The McKesson Corporation sponsors the annual award that honors an individual whose contributions on behalf of independent pharmacy embody the spirit of leadership and accomplishment personified by John W. Dargavel, who was executive secretary of the National Association of Retail Druggists, now NCPA, from 1933 to 1961. In fact, the NCPA Foundation was established in 1953 to honor Dargavel.

Scharringhausen graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy in June 1956, and later received the UW School of Pharmacy Alumni Association Alumnus of the Year Award in 1992 and the school’s Citation of Merit in 1997. Upon graduating from pharmacy school he worked at Scharringhausen Pharmacy, an independent community pharmacy founded by his grandfather in 1924 in Park Ridge, Ill. He worked there with his grandfather, father, mother, wife, and sister until retiring in 1999.

Scharringhausen has been very involved in local Park Ridge organizations, including: the area Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Men’s Prayer Breakfast, and the Park Ridge Community Church, among others, holding various leadership roles at different times. He has been active with NARD/NCPA throughout his career as well, serving as the community pharmacy group’s Credentials Committee Chairman and as coordinator of the NARD/NCPA Sunday Convention Ecumenical Worship Service, holding those positions for over 25 years. Scharringhausen also served as president of NARD/NCPA in 1991-92.

Exemplifying the spirit of independent neighborhood pharmacy, Scharringhausen says he believes community service is the rent you pay for occupying your space on earth; service to humanity is the best work of life; and that we make a living by what we earn but make a life by what we give.