JACKSONVILLE —
Fred Lang, 73, has been coming to the same dental office, Hatchett & Thompson, DDS, since he retired as a Methodist minister and moved to Jacksonville in 2002.
Lang said he was referred to the office by a friend.
“I came and I’ve been happy, and so I’ve come ever since,” Lang said.
Lang is one of many patients who has returned to this dentist office, located at 408 Wynn Drive, over three decades. This month, Hatchett & Thompson, DDS is celebrating 30 years of business.
Opened in 1981, the practice’s founding partners are still working together.
“I’ve had literally two and three generations of people come through the practice. It is very rewarding,” Dr. Mark Thompson said. “I see parents, grandparents and their children, and now their children’s children.”
“We have a combination of partnership and friendship thats been kind of unique,” Dr. Michael Hatchett said.
Thompson and Hatchett met on their first day in dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. They were lab partners in an anatomy class and have been friends ever since.
After graduation, Thompson, a native of Nacogdoches, wanted to return home to East Texas. When a dental practice came up for sale in Jacksonville, he called Hatchett — who moved from his home in San Antonio to Jacksonville.
“It’s rare that you see partnerships hold up for 30 years, let alone, plus dental school and meeting each other as lab partners,” Hatchett said. “I think that if we were a lot alike it might of created some problems, and the partnership might not have lasted, but it’s the fact that we have pretty different personalities we are different people with the same value system, with the same approaches to things has probability been the secret to us putting up with each other for 30 years.”
“Both of us have the same work ethic and have set the same goals,” Thompson said. “We work for the practice. We don’t work individually.”
Both dentists said the way they schedule their days has helped keep the practice going. They work in alternating shifts: one will work from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the other will come in at 1 p.m. and work until 7 p.m.
They said the love of helping people has kept them in the dental industry. Neither has plans to retire anytime soon.
In celebration, Hatchett& Thompson, DDS will be giving away hotdogs and door prizes on Friday, July 15, at the office. Lisa Pall, an officer manager who has worked with the practice for 22 years, said they would be handing out water instead of sodas. The event is open to the public.
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Related Photos
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Dr. Mark Thompson, left, and Dr. Mike Hatchett have been in practice for 30 years. Their friendship stretches all the way back to their days in college. Photo by Faith Harper
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All smiles
Dentist office marks 30 years in town
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