Terminix History
We have been providing pest control services to the residents and businesses in the Triad area of North Carolina since 1932. As a franchise of Terminix® International, the world’s largest pest control company, we are proud to be a local, family-owned franchise managed by four generations. This means we will be here, long-term, to stand behind our work. We are firmly committed to our customer’s satisfaction and believe in being responsible members of the community.
The Terminix story actually began in the 1920s with a hardwood floors company. Terminix was originally started as a division of the E.L. Bruce Company. E.L. Bruce was the largest producer of hardwood floors in the U.S. at the time, and the company was receiving customer complaints about rot in their hardwood floors. However, it was not actually rot that was affecting the hardwoods, it was termites. Marketed under the name Bruce-Terminix, the company was designed to “nix” termites and the termite damage that was occurring in its customer’s hardwood floors. In 1932, Robert O. Burns started our Terminix franchise here in the Triad.
Senior chemist Frank H. Lyons created a unique insecticide, allowing Terminix to hold the first patent for a termiticide. Later, Terminix became the first termite control company to franchise. By 1955, Terminix was the first company to offer a termite protection guarantee or contract and three years later Terminix began offering treatment for general residential and commercial pest control services.
In 1961, the North Carolina franchise was divided, with John R. Detgen taking over as a second-generation franchisee and starting what is referred to today as Terminix-Triad, which covers 17 counties in the Piedmont NC. As Terminix-Triad, a branch was opened in Greensboro and the company’s footprint ultimately expanded into Winston-Salem, Burlington and High Point.
From humble beginnings as a division of a hardwood floors company, to an age of growth and acquisitions, Terminix Triad now ranks as the 29th largest pest control company in the US out of 18,000, according to Pest Control Technology magazine.
Locally, Terminix-Triad now operates 14 different branches in 17 North Carolina counties covering homes and businesses from Boone to Burlington. During that same time, our pest management team has grown to more than 200 employees—all dedicated to serving the pest control and related service needs of our customers.
- Harden Blackwell, now President, came to work with the franchise in 1971.
- Burns Blackwell, Vice President and COO, came to work with the franchise in 2001.
- The Terminix Triad Corporate office was built in 1991 at 2200 16th Street, Greensboro, NC.
Pest Control and Management Services We Provide
Residential Pest Control Services & Pest Management: Ant control services, roach control (cockroach control), spider control, mosquito service, residential termite control, mouse control (vermin) and many home pest control services. We also offer residential moisture control services and insulation services to residents in our Triad pest control service locations (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Asheboro, Boone, Elkin, Eden, Mt. Airy, Pittsboro, Lexington, Kernersville, Wilkesboro and surrounding areas).
Commercial Pest Control Services & Pest Management: Ant control, cockroach control, spider control, fly control, commercial termite control, mouse control (vermin control) to restaurants, food service establishments, offices, retail stores and other commercial establishments in our Triad pest control service locations (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Asheboro, Boone, Elkin, Eden, Mt. Airy, Pittsboro, Lexington, Kernersville, Wilkesboro and surrounding areas).