It was the promise of fishing that William “Bill” Irby Jr. realized that he wanted to go into dentistry.

“My dad told me that if I would be a dentist, then I could go fishing whenever I wanted,” Irby said. “He put that bug in my ear when I was about 10 years old.”

He laughed. “That got me thinking about it.”

Irby has practiced dentistry for nearly 40 years. Earlier this year, he opened a dentistry practice in the Town of Kenbridge, located on 107 S. Broad St., the very same street his father owned a clothing store years ago.

Irby, a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College and the Medical College of Virginia, now affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University, returned to the area in 2001 after living away for more than 20 years, practicing dentistry in Pearisburg, located in Giles County.

Until a few years ago, Irby worked in Blackstone. Irby considered retirement, but decided he liked working better.

When asked if it was true whether he could fish whenever he wanted, Irby laughed.

“Nah,” he said. “You can’t go fishing whenever you want to.”

“I think him telling me that had the desired effect,” Irby continued, referring to his father, Billy Irby. “He thought I should be a dentist, so that’s what he told me, and that got me to do it, I guess.”

Irby said both parents, Billy and Betty Irby, are Lunenburg natives. Irby grew up on the other side of the Town of Kenbridge.

“I grew up coming to town all of the time,” Irby said.

His father’s clothing store was located on South Broad Street, across from the brick building that houses Benchmark Bank.

Irby practices general dentistry at the Kenbridge location, accepting patients of all ages. He said he does not perform orthodontic dentistry, such as installing braces. Irby performs dental cleanings, preventative care, fillings, crowns, dentures and extractions.

“We like taking care of people and try to do what patients need,” Irby said.

To learn more about the practice, call (434) 676-8001.