Thad Wells could see a different future for himself. Now he’s helping other see better.
Almost 10 years after he graduated from Logan County High School, Wells was single and working in technology in the Muhlenberg County School System. Now,
22 years after completing LCHS, he is Dr. Thad Wells, husband and father of two, and owner of his own professional business.
Owner of and sole optometrist at Logan Eye Care Center in Russellville for over two years, Dr. Wells is holding his third open house and trunk show this
Tuesday from 2-5 p.m. at his office. (See details in an ad on The LoJo.) Logan Eye Care Center is located at 106 Robins Way in the professional
plaza between Sol Azteca restaurant and the medical offices of doctors Mathis, Humble and Humble near the intersection of the 68-80 bypass and Hopkinsville
Road.
“We’ll have 400 to 500 more frames available Tuesday than usual for people to see, and vendors will be available to demonstrate them from companies such as
Coach and Nike,” he says. Frames prices will be dramatically discounted, and the first 20 visitors will receive a free gift.
Life is distinctly different for Wells than when he was using his economics degree from Western Kentucky University to work for the Muhlenberg County
schools. Being involved in education came naturally for the young man. His parents, Wayne and Janet Wells, were long-time teachers at Lewisburg School. His
uncle and aunt, Joe and Carolyn ‘Cub’ Wells, were long-time educators in Muhlenberg County. His cousin, Grayson Wells, is a former teacher at LCHS and
director of the Russellville Area Technology School, who is now principal of Muhlenberg South Elementary School. His twin brother Chad is district
technology coordinator for Muhlenberg County schools. Grayson’s wife Bonnie formerly taught at Russellville Middle School and now teaches at Lewisburg
Elementary School.
Thad, Chad and Grayson were inseparable friends of Brian White in the Class of 1990 at LCHS. Brian’s wife Carolyn is the Lewisburg School librarian, a
position she previously held at Adairville Elementary School. Brian’s sister, the former Tressy White, is married to Grayson’s brother, Dr. Gerame Wells,
and she taught school while her husband was in medical school.
It was his cousin Gerame’s becoming a doctor that inspired Thad to make a dramatic change in his life. He began taking chemistry and biology classes at WKU
while still working for the Muhlenberg County Schools. He began applying to professional schools and was accepted in 2004 for admission into Indiana
University’s Optometry School.
Accompanying him to Bloomington was his wife of four years, the former Courtney English of Penrod. She had been a preschool teacher (more of that tie-in
with education) but worked in a doctor’s office in Indiana while Thad was in professional school. He took classes for three years and then spent a year
doing internships in Bloomington, Indianapolis, Evansville and Fort Knox. He especially enjoyed the time he spent on the army base.
After that they came home and Dr. Wells went to work in the thriving optometry practice of doctors Marty Jensen and Amber McIntosh. Dr. Jensen approached
him about their interest in selling their Logan Eye Care Clinic to him. “He did it quietly, since they didn’t want people to know it was for sale in case I
wasn’t interested,” Thad remembers. “It was a big step. Most people don’t own a practice that soon after finishing optometry school, but on the other hand
I was the oldest member of my class. It was too good an opportunity to pass up, since it was a thriving practice with an experienced staff in my home
community. Marty and Amber made it possible for us to buy it, and we appreciate that.”
A year after the Jensens contacted him about being involved in the practices, the Wellses bought Logan Eye Care Clinic in December 2009. A month later,
their first child Kenzie was born on Jan. 7, 2010. Their second daughter, Emma Kate, was born Feb. 12 of this year. They live on Peach Orchard Road outside
Lewisburg, an area which many Wells family members also call home. They are active members of Hortons Chapel Church of Christ.
His business degree from WKU allows Dr. Wells to do most of the business operations himself, including taxes, although he says he enjoys helping patients
more than the financial side of his business. He relies on his staff, led by LCHS graduate Cassandra Whitescarver, who has been with the firm for eight
years. Others staff members are Holly Kash, who previously worked with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, and Shannon Rust, both graduates of the local
high schools.
“I’m glad to be home in Logan County,” Dr. Thad Wells says. “Working with computers wasn’t a bad job, but it certainly wasn’t as fulfilling as helping
others the way that I am now.”