Knox Pest Control is one of the longest running, family-owned pest control companies in the state of Georgia. They’ve custom pest control services in the Southeast for residential and commercial customers since 1929. Sean and Justin Knox, and their Director of Operations, Blake Grimsley, sat down with SVM to discuss the history, success, and services of Knox Pest Control, which began its journey amid the Great Depression and has survived at least four generations of Knoxes.

By Destinee Williams

What drew the Knox family to the pest control business? It was 1929, and the early stages of the Great Depression had begun. Forrest Knox was engaged to be married and searched for a job that would impact his family for generations. While applying at an Atlanta pest control company, he was told that they wanted to hire him but would not hire unmarried applicants as a matter of policy. After talking to his fiancée, they moved their wedding day up, and Forrest was hired.

Soon, Forrest and his brother, Roy, had a thriving pest and termite control business, originally called Biltmore Exterminating Co. Now, 94 years later, the fourth generation of Knoxes continues the family tradition of providing great service despite the depression, supply shortages, recessions, wars, and a pandemic over the many years.

What sets Knox Pest Control apart from the others? Knox Pest Control is a fourth-generation family of pest-control specialists serving thousands of satisfied customers since 1929. We are a full-service pest, termite, and wildlife control company with a tradition of providing top-quality service. The company has grown from selling door-to-door to serving thousands of customers throughout Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina. The corporate office is in Columbus, home to the Knox family.

In 1962, the then-named Knox Exterminating Co. had been serving Columbus, Phenix City, and the surrounding areas for over 16 years and had declared a “war on pests, termites, and the like.”

Four Generations in pest control is impressive. What do you attribute Knox Pest Control's success to, and what sets your company apart? SEAN: We contribute the company's success to God's blessings and hardworking, highly skilled, dedicated team members. We're a people company, and above all, we never lose sight of our Father and Grandfather's philosophy that; 'It's not who you get as a customer, but who you keep.' We believe in building long-term, trusting relationships with our customers. One very important difference between our company and others is that no matter how large we grow, customers will always be able to pick up the phone and reach a friendly voice - no automated system - no call center. Just old-fashioned personal attention every time. There are more than 18,000 pest control companies in the United States, and Knox is rated number 39 by PCT Magazine Top 100. We have the strength of a large company with the personal touch of a family business,

JUSTIN: Our company, its leaders, and team members are involved with activities and organizations in the communities we serve. We believe that supporting our community is our responsibility and take pride in doing so.

BLAKE: Protecting our customer's health, food, property, and the quality of our environment means adhering to the highest standards of performance and professionalism. That is why we strongly emphasize team member education and training. Knox is committed to providing safe, efficient, and effective technologies.

What are the most common pest problems in our area? BLAKE: Two of the most common pests encountered in our area are termites and roaches. Each year, termites cause about twenty million dollars’ worth of damage to the homes of Georgia residents. Taking preventive steps to prevent or control termite infestation is imperative. There are two types of houses; ones with termites and ones that will get termites, and that is why having Knox termite protection is so important. 50% of pest control specialists encounter problems with roaches. Other common pests in our area are mosquitoes, fleas, ants, and bed bugs. We have an effective treatment plan for them all.

SEAN: We also receive daily calls from customers requesting service for 'critters,' such as squirrels in the attic and raccoons. We even received a call recently for chickens roaming the neighborhood. We practice safe methods of removing the animals and placing them back in their natural habitat. We strongly emphasize team member education and training.

Why do you offer lawn service, and what specific services do you offer? BLAKE: Knox began offering lawn and ornamental shrub services ten years ago because we know that nothing says “welcome” and provides curb appeal like a lush green lawn, which ads to your property value and helping the environment.

We start with a free landscape analysis to identify specific conditions and existing problems. We then prepare a detailed report and build a customized plan that's designed to keep your lawn and landscape looking its very best year-round. These services include fertilization and nutrition, preventative weed treatments, aeration, and ornamental shrub maintenance. Knox is fortunate to have a highly skilled lawn division team with more than 50 years of combined experience.

What is the most important thing you would like people to know about Knox Pest Control? We want our community to know we are here to serve their pest control, wildlife, and lawn needs. There is no job too small or too large for us to handle, and we always provide free evaluations and inspections. Even if you just have questions about how often to water your lawn, we are here to help.

KNOX PEST CONTROL