Meet Dr. Marcus A. Wilson, DMD. Dr. Wilson is a Dentist and his practice is located at 515 West Butler Road in Mauldin.
He and his wife Shannon have been married 21 years. They have three sons. One is a Sophomore in High School and their two twins are in 7th Grade.
We’d like to thank Dr. Wilson for taking time to talk with us about the many reasons he loves the Golden Strip area and how much he enjoys helping others.
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: I had a great dentist when I was a teen and that helped. I wasn’t scared of Dentistry. I figured it out somewhere in my sophomore year in college. I was interested in Physics and Engineering and decided after my first Physics course that I hated it, and I ended up really liking the Biological Sciences. I have the kind of personality where I love to be out talking to people and not in a cubicle, so Healthcare was an obvious choice. Dentistry was a good fit for me. I know that people are often afraid of going to the dentist. I think I have the kind of personality that can put people at ease and that’s probably the thing that drew me to it.
Q: How long have you been in this career?
A: 23 Years
Q: What do you enjoy most about what you do?
A: The people! It’s nice to help somebody with their smile. It’s nice to help somebody feel better and get out of pain. But in a lot of ways, it’s nice to just chat with people.
Q: Describe the strangest or funniest incident you’ve experienced in your business?
A: Probably a month after we opened. I was getting ready to do a procedure on the son of one of my wife’s best friends. I stood up into a cabinet and literally knocked myself out. I was laid out in the middle of the hallway. I was on the ground for about 20 minutes and had to go to the hospital to get stitches in my head. That same kid asks me about it every time he sees me now. He’s says, “You know that was great. I was supposed to get an extraction and I got out of it that day. What are you going to do this day now that I’ve got to have another procedure done?” The office staff bought me a returning gift. They bought me a hard hat and I still have it.
Q: What did you do prior to this career?
A: I was just in school. I went straight through college and dental school. Well, my first job was cleaning bathrooms at a BP station on the Interstate. I decided education would be my way out of cleaning bathrooms. So while I was in college, I got a job as a lifeguard. My first job as a lifeguard was to clean the bathrooms.Then we got the office here and we couldn’t afford to hire anybody to do the office cleaning so we were our own office cleaners for awhile. So it followed me around. Eventually we got busy enough that we were able to bring somebody in to do that, and I’m very thankful for it today.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in the Golden Strip, and what do you love there?
A: Olive Tree. I love it! Their house dressing is divine. The owner is super nice. He chats with me when I come in. It’s wonderful.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in the Golden Strip area?
A: 23 Years
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: Ireland! My wife is part Irish. She’s got me listening to Irish music for the last 20 years and I would love to go.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Ocean’s 11, believe it or not. It makes me laugh every time I watch it.
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: Be kind! Kindness can go a long way and there’s people in this world who really need it.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I play guitar, I do some percussion, and drawing.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: I would love to learn how to fly a plane.
Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: I would really like to see Aerosmith, The Eagles, and Journey.
Q: What current / former local business makes you feel the most nostalgic about the Golden Strip area?
A: I loved the Main Street Diner. It was really good!
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about the Golden Strip area?
A: I really like downtown Fountain Inn. It has such an aesthetic appeal.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: Here. I’m very comfortable with this place and very happy with how it’s turned out here.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: I enjoy Art. I enjoy sketching, but it’s pretty much just for me.
Q: Do you have a charity or organization that you are passionate about?
A: Yes, I’m involved with Miracle Hill’s recovery program that helps women who are overcoming drug abuse. Sometimes they refer select candidates from their program for dental work so we’ve gotten to know some of their stories. They’re real people and they have some tough stories. These are regular people and some of them have been going through it since they were 13 or 14 years old. So you know life for them has been tough.
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: Comfortable, Loud (with 3 kids), My Dog
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?
A: Benedict Cumberbatch
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? Where in the Golden Strip area would you have lunch?
A: J.K. Rowling- The author of Harry Potter. She’s very wise. We end up quoting her books a lot around our house…even the grownups. I’d probably take her to lunch at Olive Tree. Of course I wouldn’t mind meeting her in England and let her take me to her favorite place.
Q: Do you have any pet stories to share?
A: I have a Yorkie rescue from the Humane Society. He’s been with us for 5 years and still not housebroken!
Q: Who else would you like to see nominated as a Face of the Golden Strip?
A: Derek Bridges from Sandlapper Automotives. I will only buy Hondas and Toyotas now because he’s the only one I ever want to take care of my car. He’s very reasonable compared to the dealers especially and very trustworthy. We’ve used him for at least 15 years now.
