SECOND GENERATION: From left: Dentists Kurt and Hal Mark Schrock carried the torch for their father and have passed it on to the next generation of Schrocks through Kurt’s son Benjamin.
Photo by Jodi Marze

Three generations of the Schrock family from Picayune have devoted their careers to the profession of dentistry.

Dr. Hal Mark Schrock, his father, the late Dr. Jim Schrock, have served the Picayune area through their careers. Hal Mark Schrock’s brother Dr. Kurt Schrock, as well as Kurt’s son, Dr. Benjamin Schrock, have practiced in the Vicksburg area.

Dr. Hal Mark Schrock  D.D.S., P.A, founded The Picayune Dental Clinic at 200 Norwood St. in May of 1980. The clinic specializes in family dentistry providing care to patients from childhood to adulthood. The patients would eventually bring their children.

They say they all chose dentistry for the same reasons.

“We chose dentistry in part because of our father’s influence on us but also, because it was such a great fit for our personalities,” Kurt Schrock said.

“I love to build things and make things,” Hal Mark Schrock said. “This surgical ‘micro construction’ fits me to a tee. I am perfectionist, or so I have been told, and it has to be right. It drives everyone around me crazy sometimes. But it is the best trait possible to find in a practitioner, if you desire a good one. This work is very meticulous.”

The late Dr. Jim Schrock had often spoke of his sons and grandson, who had joined him in the dental profession, with great pride.

“I could not be more proud of them all,” he said in an interview with the Item in May of 2013. “To have one son go into dentistry would have been wonderful, but to have both of my sons go into dentistry and my grandson as well is just outstanding.”

The profession is challenging in both scientific and artistic areas.

“Reconstruction requires replicating nature, which brings in your artistic side,” Kurt Schrock said. “But dentistry also requires a strong science background for the medication aspects and a business background since you are running your own business.”

Their mother, Charleen Schrock, had worked with their father in Picayune for 38 years until he retired.

“I loved working with my husband in the office,” she said. “I felt we had a partnership in our family business.”

Today, Kurt Schrock is retired, but Hal Mark Schrock is expanding his Picayune office.

“The new office will be by Exit 6 on the corner of Highland Commons Parkway. The plans have been completed and we are excited about this next phase of our business,” Hal Mark Schrock said.

Hal Mark’s nephew, Benjamin, is also growing his profession by returning to the University of Alabama to specialize in endodontics, the family says. He is on target to graduate in less than two years.