Doug MacPherson
Former president of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), Douglas MacPherson, died Jan. 14 in Baton Rouge, La., from complications from COVID-19. He was 89.
MacPherson was born in Toledo, Ohio, and worked in the pest control industry for more than 60 years after graduating from The Ohio State University with his bachelor’s degree in 1955 and his master’s degree in entomology in 1956. A veteran, he served in the Korean War with the U.S. Army, and earned the Purple Heart.
He owned and operated Dugas Pest Control from 1973 to 2003. He sold the business to his daughter, Laura Simpson, who with her husband Floyd and son Jeremy Clark now own and manage the business.
Along with his tenure as the NPMA president in 1979-80, MacPherson served as president of the Louisiana Pest Control Association in 1971, and president of the Associated Pest Control in 1993-94. He was inducted into the Marketing Managers Association (2008) and received the Louisiana Pest Management Association Award of Excellence (2012).
In 1986, he was one of the founders of LIPCA, an insurance company for pest management professionals. He served as secretary/treasurer since its inception and retired in 2019.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joanna Penn MacPherson; and his daughters, Laura Simpson (Floyd); Traci MacPherson and Kelly Johannessen (Bob); grandchildren, Jeremy Clark (Julie); James Clark (Natalie); Alex Day (Danielle); Suzanne Otwell (Travis); Andrew Jones; Rob and Anna Johannessen; and eight great grandchildren.
Memorial donations can be made First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge or the NPMA’s Pest Management Foundation.
The Pest Management Professional magazine staff extends its sincere condolences to MacPherson’s family, friends and colleagues.
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