2011 Inductee

Hall of Fame

Dr. Larry Proffitt

Dr. Larry Proffitt: A Life of Service, Family, and the Wild Turkey Woods

Few individuals leave a legacy that spans community service, family values, business leadership, and conservation. Dr. Larry Proffitt is one of those rare people whose life story reflects a deep commitment to others, a passion for the outdoors, and an unwavering dedication to the traditions he loves.

A 1969 graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy in Memphis, Dr. Proffitt devoted his professional life to serving the people of Northeast Tennessee. For decades, he owned and operated the beloved Burgie Drug Store in Elizabethton, providing trusted pharmaceutical care from 1975 until his retirement. In addition, he carried forward another cherished family tradition as the second-generation owner of Ridgewood Barbecue, one of Tennessee’s most famous dining establishments.

While his professional accomplishments are significant, those who know Larry best often point first to his character. He is a man of faith, family, and principle whose values have guided every aspect of his life. Those values are perhaps most evident in his role as a grandfather. In 2018, he authored the best-selling book Letters to My Grandsons, a heartfelt collection of wisdom, reflections, and life lessons. The title itself reveals the importance Larry places on family and the enduring impact he hopes to have on future generations.

Beyond his business and family life, Dr. Proffitt has built a remarkable reputation in the hunting and conservation community. An avid outdoorsman, he is especially passionate about wild turkey hunting, a pursuit that has captivated him for decades.

“I can’t explain why turkey hunting has become so addicting to me. I just know that if you want to find me from the dates March 15 to May 1, the first place you should look is in the turkey woods—just try to be quiet—you might spook a turkey.”

That passion evolved into a lifelong study of the wild turkey. More than just a hunter, Larry became a student of turkey behavior, dedicating countless hours to observing birds in their natural habitat and refining his understanding of turkey communication. His extensive field experience has earned him numerous Grand and Royal Slams, accomplishments that place him among the most accomplished turkey hunters in North America. Yet true to his humble nature, he has never been eager to discuss the exact number.

Dr. Proffitt’s expertise has also made him a respected leader within the National Wild Turkey Federation. Over the years, he has served the organization in numerous capacities and has become widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable and respected turkey-calling contest judges in the country. His credibility as a judge is rooted not in theory, but in decades of direct experience conversing with, studying, and hunting wild turkeys throughout their range.

His dedication to understanding turkey vocalizations led him to conduct extensive field studies involving nearly every type of turkey call. One of his most notable areas of research stemmed from a fascination with one of the earliest books ever written on turkey hunting. After obtaining a copy of The Wild Turkey and Its Hunting, originally written in 1914 by Charles Jordan and published by Edward A. McIlhenny following Jordan’s untimely death, Larry became intrigued by Jordan’s assertion that the trumpet call could carry farther and sound more realistic than other turkey calls.

Rather than simply accepting the claim, Proffitt approached the subject with the same curiosity and discipline that characterized his professional career. Armed with a tape recorder and a determination to test the theory, he conducted his own experiments in the field. To his surprise, he confirmed Jordan’s century-old observations: the trumpet call did indeed project farther and often produced a more natural sound than many contemporary calls. His findings further deepened his appreciation for the rich history of turkey hunting and helped preserve knowledge that might otherwise have been forgotten.

Whether behind a pharmacy counter, in a family business, on a judging panel, or beneath the canopy of a spring turkey woods, Dr. Larry Proffitt has always pursued excellence with humility and integrity. His life reflects a rare combination of professional achievement, community service, devotion to family, and a passion for conservation.

For many, Larry Proffitt is known as a pharmacist, business owner, author, hunter, mentor, or conservationist. In truth, he is all of these things. But perhaps his greatest legacy is the example he has set—showing that a meaningful life is built not only through accomplishments, but through faith, service, family, and a lifelong commitment to learning and sharing with others.

Today, Dr. Larry Proffitt remains a respected icon within the wild turkey hunting community, a treasured member of the National Wild Turkey Federation, and a man whose influence continues to be felt far beyond the Tennessee hills where his story began.