Clinic celebrates 64 years of service to Decatur
DECATUR — In 1957, a promising young doctor brought his family to a small town in extreme northwest Arkansas to open his first practice. Sixty-three years later, that small practice has grown into a thriving medical clinic that still serves the community this young doctor grew to love.
The Decatur Medi Clinic, located at 346 North Main Street in downtown Decatur, took flight in 1957 when Dr. Edward N. McCollum opened McCollum Clinic in the old two-story building located next to what is now the taxidermy shop. There were two offices on the second floor. McCollum occupied one room; a dentist was in the other.
At the time, McCollum and his wife Chris lived in the red brick building known as the Eli Jones house, which was located on the site where the Decatur police station is now.
McCollum recounted six months he and his wife lived in close proximity to his practice.
“I remember the bedroom was in the front of the house next to the porch. Many times, people would come, wake me up hollering in the window around 7 a.m, ‘Hey doc, what time are you coming to the office? I have a sore throat’” (Decatur Herald January 19, 1994).
McCollum built a new home in the Oak Park addition, which was located in eastern Decatur just west of the old Decatur public schools.
In 1963, McCollum moved his practice into a new 5,000 square foot clinic which was designed by Architect Paul Wilson of Rogers and constructed by local Decatur contractor Bill Copeland. This was the birth of the Decatur Medi Clinic.
The 22-room clinic was equipped with modern (at the time) x-ray and fluoroscope and an emergency room that was accessible from the east entrance of the facility and had the capacity for minor surgeries to be performed. It housed two doctors, a dentist, and a pharmacy.
Applegate Pharmacy, which was located in the northwest corner of the clinic was owned and operated by Joe and Melba Applegate from Bentonville. Charles Furlow was a registered pharmacist that worked with the Applegates to serve the pharmaceutical needs of Decatur area residents.
In 1970, Doctor William Frank Webb, a long-time resident of Decatur, joined the clinic as the second family physician.
In 1992, the Medi Clinic became a Certified Rural Health Clinic. This allowed the clinic to better serve the needs of low-income families.
On Sept. 1, 1992, McCollum’s son Mike, a 1979 graduate of Decatur High School, took over as administrator of the Decatur Medi Clinic. Twenty-eight years later, Mike is still working in that same position.
Mike’s administrative assistant, Peggy Beal, joined the staff at Decatur Medi Clinic in 1979. She will be celebrating her 42nd anniversary in August.
Today the Decatur Medi Clinic is staffed by Dr. Jeff Honderich, DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) and Katie Sheffield, APRN (nurse practitioner). The Decatur Medi Clinic continues the same level of care as its founder, Edward McCollum, provided 63 years ago. For more information on the clinic, go to www.decaturmediclinic.com or call 479-752-3233.