Raleigh icon of medicine Dr. William Hedrick retires after serving patients for 61 years

At the age of 90, with 61 years of medical practice under his belt, a Raleigh icon is hanging up his stethoscope.

Dr. William Hedrick retires this month after a long career. In his own words he described his goal, "Making people feel better and making them live longer lives."

Now, he is helping his patients prepare for the change.

While sitting down to visit with Joy Nielsen, Hedrick asked, "You’ve been a patient of mine for probably, what?" Nielsen quickly answered, "Over 50 years," she said with a laugh.

Both Joy Nielsen and her 93-year-old mother have been loyal patients of Hedrick. There are many stories like that one.

Hedrick said, "There was a patient came to me the other day, he said, ‘You know doc,’ he said, ‘You did my high school physical.’ And now, he’s 70."

That relationship with more than 2,500 patients ends this month as the doctor officially retires.

Nielsen said,"This is pretty sad. It’s hard to go to another doctor after you’ve been here for 50 years with Dr. Hedrick."

"Patients of mine are disappointed because I looked after them for a long time," Hedrick said.

Hedrick always wanted to be a doctor. After graduating from the School of Medicine in Wake Forest, Hedrick spent two years in the army and then practiced medicine in Atlanta.

"I came back to Raleigh and I was the first ER physician at WakeMed," Hedrick said.

Hedrick spent 10 years as chief medical examiner for Wake County and then pursued a solo, family practice.

"I wanted to be my own boss, take care of patients," Hedrick said.

At the same, he and his wife Merrie Hedrick enjoyed raising their children on their farm.

Hedrick never cut back on his hours serving patients.

"I just have incredible respect for somebody who puts in the time and energy to do that. Health care has changed so much," said Dr. Daniel Gill with Avance Care on Wake Forest Road in Raleigh.

It’s where Gill now steps in to help serve many of Hedrick’s patients. He admires Hedrick’s devotion to those who put their trust in him.

"He actually put the patient first and by putting the patient first, everything else kind of flushes out you know?" Gill said.

Now, Hedrick knows it’s time to move on to the next chapter in his life.

"I’m 90 years old now and I guess that’s time," he said. "I wrote the patients a letter, I said, ‘all good things must come to an end,’ and that’s sort of what this is."

Hedrick says his greatest claim to fame was beating Arnold Palmer by one hole in golf. That’s when they were both students around 1948 at Wake Forest.