My father, Marvin Lashley was born in 1936, 10 miles west of Live Oak, Fl. raised on a 140-acre farm and growing up as a typical young man in the south working his tail off on the farm. In his early twenties, my father and his sister went to college in South Georgia. That is where he met my mother, Barbara. They were married and moved to Jacksonville, FL. Soon after marriage, Ma was having children and Dad found work.

 

In May 1959, Dad started as a technician for Florida Pest Control Chemical Corporation. His boss was Mr. Sapp, which his son, Mr. Sapp Jr. still owns the company today. My father worked and managed the branch on Cassat Ave. for 15 years. Then one day, Mr. Sapp hired a hotshot entomologist to manage the company. From this, my father was demoted, and with as much pride as my father has, he told them he quit!

Well that he did, and in 1974 he started Service Pest Control on Cassat Ave. Since my father’s business was in a good location, I remember selling watermelons as a small boy on the side of the road for .50 to $1.00. I received these watermelons from my Grandfather that he grew on his farm. To me as a small boy, I thought I was making big money back then.

A few years later my father’s company was doing so well he decided to sell his business. They relocated the business off of Dignan St. and they bit off more than they could chew. About a year or two later he bought his business back because of 2 things: the love of the business and he disliked the way his old clients were being treated. Along with the buy back of the business he’s always loved, as well as, his clients, he decided to change the name to Enviro Pest Control, Inc. and move to Dennard St. to continue the prosperous business.

That is where I came into the picture; I started May 8, 1985 as a 19-year-old boy eager to learn all about the business and more. I worked for my father for 2 or 3 years, started an indoor pest control route, and later, a lawn route and worked 7 days a week to be successful. We have always been there for our customers and if they have a problem, we explain with the absolute truth….no gimmicks, just straight up talk. Because………… “Our Customers Are # 1”.