Orkin’s Paul Hardy to Retire after 52 Years of Service

Atlanta-based pest control leader Orkin, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc (NYSE: ROL), announces Paul Hardy’s retirement after 52 years with the company. Effective March 31, 2013, the senior technical services director is retiring at age 70. Paul got his start in the pest management field while working in a Florida orange grove in 1961. —

Throughout his 52 years with the company, Paul has held nearly every position in the pest control field, including Pro, supervisor, branch manager, sales inspector, region manager and director. With such a wide range of experience, pest control professionals industrywide have looked to Paul for advice for decades. He has trained or mentored thousands of professionals, not only at Orkin, but throughout the pest control industry. Today Paul is responsible for technical issues in termite control services, pest control service, equipment, fumigation, treatment and research and development.

“I have learned a lot of values since I got my start at Orkin,” said Paul. “It took a lot of mentors, and the key to that is to be a mentor in return. It also takes a lot of hard work—nothing comes for free.”

In addition to assisting branches with specific pest issues and shaping training initiatives, Paul has authored numerous pest control articles for professional journals and is a frequent speaker at state pest control associations throughout the United States. Paul is also very active in the industry, currently holding memberships in the Florida and Georgia Pest Control Associations, the National Pest Management Association, the Entomological Society of America and Pi Chi Omega. He sits on several committees and councils and served as chairman of the Wood Destroying Organism Committee for the Georgia Pest Control Association for 12 years before resigning to accept the title of “honorary chairman.”

With all of Paul’s knowledge and experience, he has earned several industry awards, including Pest Control Technology’s (PCT) 1995 Leadership Award, PCT’s 25 Most Influential People in 2000, PCT’s 2001 Professional of the Year, Georgia Pest Control Association’s 2003 Pioneer Award, 2005 Pest Control Hall of Fame, Bayer’s 2006 Image Maker, Honorary Membership GPCA July 2006, 2007 NPMA Pinnacle Award and CPCO Georgia’s 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I know of no finer ‘Orkin Pro,’” said Gary Rollins, CEO of Rollins Inc and COO of Orkin. “It has been my privilege to work with Paul for most of these 52 years.”

Upon retirement, in addition to traveling and visiting old friends, Paul plans to do some consulting work, continue to write articles and give presentations. Paul and his wife Judy have four children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.