Dr. Douglas A. Safley,
Fellow of the Academy of Optometry Board Certified,
American Board of Optometry
Dr. Safley graduated from Pacific University College of Optometry in 1976 where he was vice president of the Student Optometric Association and a senator in the University Senate. After joining the US Navy, he became the chief optometrist at Mare Island Naval Station in Vallejo, Ca. until 1978. He then came back to Montana and bought the practice of George Johnson. Dr. Obie joined him a few months later and together they began the Havre Optometric Clinic. He has had many professional accomplishments including being selected Young Optometrist of the Year in 1980, becoming a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 1988, serving as President of the Montana Optometric Association in 1991-92, receiving the recognition of Optometrist of the Year 1992 and Special Achievement Award from the Montana Optometric Association in 1993. In 1988, Dr. Safley was recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. He has been involved with many local groups including being President of the Havre Area Chamber in 1983, President of Havre Rotary Club in 1982-83, Chairman of City County Planning Board in 1986 and Advisor to the Havre Area Economic Development Coalition in the 1980's. Dr. Safley has served 11 years on the board of Great Western Council of Optometry, a professional organization comprised of 13 western states and was president 2012-2013. In January of 2014 he became board certified by the American Board of Optometry making him one of fewer than 30 certified in the state.
Dr. Gary M. Stremcha
Dr. Stremcha graduated with distinction from Pacific University College of Optometry in 1985. While in optometry school he was a member of Beta Sigma Kappa, an optometric honor fraternity. He also received the Barnes Hind Award for outstanding achievement in contact lens studies. Dr. Stremcha returned to Montana after graduation and started practice in Scobey and then Billings. He joined the Havre Optometric Clinic in October of 1993. Dr. Stremcha served as the president of the Montana Optometric Association in 1998-99. He is a member of the Havre Lions Club.
Dr. Larry G. Obie
Dr. Larry Obie is a Montana native and graduated Pacific Univ. College of Optometry in 1977. That year he moved to Havre and in 1978 formed Havre Optometric Clinic with Dr. Safley. He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Montana Optometric Association. He received the "Young Optometrist of the Year" award in 1981 and is a past president of the MOA,1983-84. He received the "Distinguished Service Award" from the MOA in 2002. Dr. Obie was awarded the 2014 O.D. of the year from the Montana Optometric Association. He is a member and past president of the Havre Kiwanis Club and a member of the Havre Chamber of Commerce. He has a satellite practice in Chinook and is there two days a week. He is a member and past president of the Chinook Chamber of Commerce and the Chinook Lions Club. Dr. Obie was a member and a past president of the Board of Optometry, the regulatory body for the profession. He is married to Loretta and has two children. Dr. Obie enjoys flying, golf, hunting and reading.