Snell’s Celebrates a Century of Service

75

Snell’s Orthotics & Prosthetics observes their 100th year of service to their community in 2011, and plans to celebrate with a special giving project.  Each Snell’s branch office is nurturing a Legacy Giving Tree whose growth depends on community support, but also benefits its community. Each visitor to any Snell’s branch location may choose from three charitable organizations—or nominate their own favorite charity—and then place a corresponding colored leaf, complete with their vote, on a branch of the Giving Tree.

Leaves will be harvested every quarter, and Snell’s will make a donation to the community service winner in each of the four regions.  “No donation is required from the voter,” emphasizes W. Clint Snell, CPO, President of Snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics. “In celebration of our Centennial, Snell’s is glad to do the giving.”

The Legacy Giving Tree idea grew from Snell’s historic roots. Founder R.W. “Pop” Snell began his business in Memphis in 1911, carefully hand-carving each artificial limb from wood, supported by a rawhide covering for strength.  Pop’s son, “Big Jim” Snell, who stood 6’8”, established a Little Rock office, but later moved to Shreveport in 1939 with just $300 in his pocket. He struggled through the depression years, when few people could pay for services; the war years, when hundreds of soldiers needed care; and the polio epidemic of 1951-52, when employees worked 24/7 to meet the demand for braces.

When Big Jim retired in 1976, he sold his South Louisiana interest to his partner and left ownership of Snell’s O&P to his son, Clint Snell, a third-generation practitioner with 42 years’ experience in O&P who is well-known for his commitment to O&P education. Clint’s son, Chris Snell, helps to manage the company.  Today, Snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics includes two facilities in Shreveport, one in Alexandria and Snell’s Celebrates a Century of Serviceone in Monroe.

What is a Legacy Tree?

As America’s old growth forests disappear, many carefully-managed commercial forests are recognizing the value of sparing a few widely-scattered older trees––magnificent, strong and healthy—called “Legacy Trees”. These trees continue to provide habitat and shelter for many wildlife species that might otherwise be endangered without the protection of the Legacy Trees.