I am old enough to remember when Dr. Edwards, our family doctor, in Monett, Mo., raised his office call fee from $4.50 to $6 per visit.
Dr. Edwards lagged behind the other doctors in raising his office call fees. He explained during our next visit that the man keeping his books had told him he needed to raise his fee. He had resisted. Other doctors in the area had raised their fees twice, and some were charging as much as $7.50 per call.
In a good-natured, teasing way, my father, Oliver Fenix, asked Dr. Edwards, since the other doctors were charging more, did that mean they were better doctors? Dr. Edwards just smiled and said nothing. My father teased about it again.
Seldom did Dr. Edwards use a rough word, but he did then. He said, "Hell, Oliver, there is no doctor that is worth more than $6!" Everyone laughed, but Dr. Edwards meant it.
Floyd Fenix is a Texarkana educator and businessman.