Terminix Service celebrates 75th anniversary

From left: Lex Knox, chairman and CEO; Susan Douglas, VP of finance; Rion Cobb, VP of human services; Trevor Knox, VP of sales & marketing; gather along 1947 Terminix Way — a street at TSI’s headquarters dedicated to the year of the company’s founding. PHOTO: TERMINIX SERVICE

This fall, Columbia, S.C.-based Terminix Service, a family-owned and -operated business, marked its 75th anniversary.

While the company and pest control industry have evolved over the past seven decades, Terminix Service credits its founding principles as the primary drivers for its continued success.

“In 1947, my grandfather founded this company around several key principles, and those remain the central focus of how we do business today,” said Lex Knox, Terminix Service chairman and CEO and a 50-year employee. “We’ve maintained a primary commitment to delivering quality service to exceed our customers’ expectations, and that’s made possible by recruiting, continually training, and retaining the best team possible. And our dedication to enhancing the communities where we work has allowed us to have a meaningful impact across our service area.”

Terminix Service’s business has grown significantly since 1947. The company now covers western North Carolina and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), a trading and marketing region spanning 14 counties in Georgia and seven in South Carolina. It is also has customers throughout South Carolina. Overall, it serves more than 250,000 customers from 56 branch locations.

“Our industry has seen tremendous change over the last 75 years, and I’m proud of how we’ve evolved to meet the needs of both our customers and employees,” said Tommy Fortson, vice chairman. “Investments in technology, operations, and most importantly our people, is a commitment we made early on and continue today.”

In 2019, Terminix Service debuted a new corporate office and leadership center to further its commitment to industry-leading training for onboarding and continuing education supporting personal and professional development. The company also continued its focus on industry-leading service with adding a 4,200-square-foot training house to provide field employees with hands-on, technical training starting the first week of employment. With more than 1,100 employees – nearly half of whom have been with the company for more than five years – Terminix Service is regularly recognized by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Business NC Magazine as a top employer and best place to work.

“At its core, Terminix Service, Inc. is a family business, and our culture and commitment to training enables us to deliver the best quality service to our customers,” said Rion Cobb, vice president of human services. “Reaching this milestone and growing our business over the past 75 years wouldn’t be possible without the support and dedication of our extended family of employees. We thank them for their commitment to our company and the customers we serve.”

With a mission to provide services that protect and enhance the living and working environments of its customers and communities, Terminix Service’s impact has never stopped there. Over the years, Terminix Service has invested in local communities through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, The American Red Cross, animal advocacy groups, and more, as well as sponsorships at Clemson University and the University of South Carolina. The company also maintains a leadership commitment within the pest control industry and signified this support through a $1 million gift to launch the Urban Entomology Initiative at Clemson University.

“Building meaningful connections within our industry and the communities we serve has been a part of our company values since 1947,” said Scott Fortson, president. “We’re extremely fortunate to be in a position to give back to the community and remain committed to making an impact throughout our service area as we continue to grow as a business.”