The Pest Management Professional staff is saddened to learn of the passing of three influential men in the professional pest control industry: Dr. C. Douglass Mampe, Edward J. Sheehan and Thomas Forshaw III. Condolences are expressed for each of these figures’ family, friends and colleagues.
Dr. Doug Mampe, a longtime columnist and technical editor for Pest Management Professional magazine and a PMP Hall of Famer (Class of 2003), passed away on July 5, 2025. He was 84.
Dr. Mampe was also the past technical director of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), former technical director of Western Industries (now part of Rollins Inc.), former general manager of Residex (a legacy company of Target Specialty Products) and an industry consultant via his company, DM Associates.
Dr. Mampe began his career at Iowa State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in entomology. He later earned a master’s degree in the field from North Dakota State University in 1962 and obtained his doctorate from North Carolina State University in 1965.
As the former technical director of the National Pest Management Association (then known as the National Pest Control Association) from 1965-1974, he produced more than 2,000 pages of technical releases and developed a committee system of five members plus unlimited correspondents to permit the association to afford committee meetings when necessary.
In the 1970s and 1980s, with the tumultuous state of affairs for pesticide applicators and government regulations, Dr. Mampe’s achieved many accomplishments, including:
- Developed NPMA committee system of five members plus unlimited correspondents, in order to permit the association to afford committee meetings when necessary
- During Western tenure, developed procedures for applying termiticides on properties containing wells (the procedures were adopted by New Jersey and are still used today)
- Brought Vikane house fumigation to the Northeast by obtaining license from Dow (then-owner of what is now owned by Douglas Products), developing procedures for Western and then marketing to and training other firms on the procedures
- Awarded Pest Control Operator of the Year, 1979, from the New Jersey Pest Management Association
- Past resource person for the US House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture
- Assisted Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministry of Antiquities in developing termite control procedures in 1982
- Director of training and education for New Jersey Pest Management Association (NJPMA) from 1981-2000
- Developed approved certification training programs for New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts
- Conducted approved recertification training programs in more than 20 states since 1980
- Developed in-house IPM program for theNew York State Department of Corrections in 1983
- Developed pesticide residue management techniques to reduce pesticide residues on surfaces and in indoor air
- Liaison between NJPMA and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to develop a working relationship to permit the industry to be heard fairly by the agency
- Member of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s working committee to develop IPM programs for state occupied buildings in 1994
- Provided consultation and training on termite control for the Panama Canal Zone Commission in 1994 and 1996
- Authored chapters in NPMA’s Approved Reference Procedures for Subterranean Termite Control and Wood Decay Manual.
Per his wishes, there will not be a memorial service for Dr. Mampe.
Ed Sheehan, who has been in the pest control business since 1967, died on June 30, 2025. He was 79.
Sheehan was the founder of Checkmate Exterminators, which he owned and operated for 27 years before selling it to Terminix International in 1998. He was also the co-host of the Colony Confidential podcast, one of the longest-running podcasts in the pest control industry. He was joined on the podcast by his son, Joseph, who is CEO of Colony Pest Management, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based pest control company.
Through his decades of service, Sheehan didn’t just build a business — he built a community. The podcast gave him a platform to share insights, experiences and opinions during conversations laced with love, respect and humor.
“His voice on Colony Confidential wasn’t just informative — it was personal, real and unmistakably Ed. He elevated the pest management profession by making it approachable and respected, always blending expertise with a unique brand of New York charm,” the Colony Confidential team shared in a statement.
Sheehan also made an on-screen appearance in Morgan Spurlock’s documentary, “RATS.” The documentary took a look at the history of rat infestations in major cities throughout the world.
In the wake of the news, The Edward J Sheehan scholarship fund has been created to honor Sheehan’s legacy in the industry. He was a huge promoter of constant personal improvement and bettering oneself. Whether it be on your own or through traditional higher education, the Edward J Sheehan scholarship fund will be for people seeking to better themselves after high school through trade school and/or traditional higher education.
Learn more about the scholarship and make a donation here.
Thomas Forshaw III, former longtime president of the family-owned pest management supplier, FORSHAW, died on June 29, 2025, at the age of 81. He spent his final days surrounded by his wife of 56 years, Meredith, and their three children: Anne, Thomas IV and Susan.
He graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in applied mathematics and pursued minors in computer programming and economics before serving in the U.S. Army.
After his discharge, he joined his father in the family business, Forshaw Chemicals, where he continued the legacy of entrepreneurship by founding Forshaw Distribution. He successfully grew the business and made significant contributions to the pest management industry.
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