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Arrow Exterminators announced the Joe Thomas Endowed Professorship has been established at the University of Tennessee in honor of the company’s longtime owner and chairman.
The professorship recognizes his contributions to Arrow Exterminators and the pest management industry while supporting education and leadership development for future generations. Thomas is a member of the Pest Management Professional Hall of Fame (Class of 2009).
The Joe Thomas Endowed Professorship was created with an initial gift of $100,000 and a commitment to raise an additional $500,000 through the pest management industry. It will create lasting faculty support while celebrating Thomas’ legacy of service, entrepreneurship and industry advancement.
For 54 years, Thomas has devoted his career to Arrow Exterminators, a company that has been in business for 62 years, serving as owner and chairman. He has helped shape the company into one of the premier family-owned pest management firms in the nation. As the visionary behind Arrow Exterminators’ growth, Thomas has provided the steady leadership, values-driven culture, and long-term strategic direction that have guided the company to $500 million in annual revenue.
“The University of Tennessee helped shape my foundation for leadership, and it is my hope that this professorship will help prepare future generations to serve, lead and strengthen the pest management industry for years to come,” Thomas said.
The professorship reflects Thomas’ deep commitment to education, leadership development and the future of the pest management profession. By supporting exceptional faculty at the University of Tennessee, it will strengthen teaching, research and outreach that prepare future leaders, advance practical knowledge and serve the needs of students, businesses and communities.
“To so many people, he is Joe Thomas, the visionary leader who helped build Arrow Exterminators into what it is today. To me, he is Daddy,” said Arrow Exterminators CEO Emily Thomas Kendrick, Thomas’ daughter. “I have had the blessing of watching him lead with humility, integrity and a deep love for people. This professorship is a meaningful way to honor not only his remarkable career, but also the values he has lived every day and passed on to our family, our company, and our industry.”
Through the collective support of Arrow Exterminators, industry partners, colleagues and friends, the Joe Thomas Endowed Professorship will stand as a permanent tribute to Thomas’ remarkable service, his University of Tennessee roots, and his lifelong dedication to building people, companies and an industry with vision and integrity.
About Arrow Exterminators
Family-owned and -operated since 1964, Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators is the largest family-owned pest and termite control company in the United States, ranked by revenue. It has 201 service centers, over 3,700 team members and revenues exceeding $500 million. Featuring QualityPro accreditation by the National Pest Management Association, the company offers innovative and environmentally responsible services to protect homes and businesses of customers and operates in 16 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
