Distinguished Alumni

Joe Schwemin - 1981

Joe Schwemin graduated from Southwestern State University in 1948 with a degree in Pharmacy and was president of Beta Tau Beta fraternity. He owned and operated his own drug stores and several non-drug businesses for 25 years.

He received the Outstanding Contributor to Pharmacy Award in 1971; Special Recognition Award in 1974 from the School of Pharmacy at SWOSU. He is also a member of the SWOSU Alumni Foundation. He received the Prestigious Pharmacy Award “Bowl of Hygeia” in 1962, presented by the National Association of Retail Druggists.

He has been a member of the Oklahoma Pharmaceutical Association since 1948 and served as president in 1961-62. He has been a member of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy since 1964 and served as president in 1973-74. He is also a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association and served as president of the Midwest Drug Conference in 1963.

Joe is chairman of the Controlled Dangerous Substances-Diversion Investigation Unit for the State of Oklahoma Policy Board. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs; a member of several drug committees for the State Board of Health, Department of Mental health and Department of Public Safety.

He is a member of the Governors Mini-Cabinet; representative to several National Associations of Board of Pharmacy, and chairman of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy for District 6.

Besides his professional contributions, Joe is a former president of the Tulsa Lions Club, former District Governor of Lions International; , president of the West of Main Chamber of Commerce in Tulsa, and named to Who’s Who in America. He served in World War II as a United States Marine.   

Joe is a native of Ponca City. He and his wife, Louise, live in Oklahoma City. Joe is the father of five children.