Forrest H. Knox embarked on a new career that would ultimately impact his family for at least the next three generations. As he walked the streets of Atlanta, his leather satchel in hand — filled with roach powder and mice bait — young Forrest sold and serviced those initial pest control accounts that would serve as part of the foundation for what would become a successful fourth-generation family of pest control specialists. Forrest joined forces with his brother Roy and the two brothers soon had a thriving pest and termite control business. With a philosophy of “it is not who you get as a customer, it’s who you keep as a customer,” quality service became the motivating force behind customer acquisition and retention. After all, without you, our customers, where would we be? Forrest’s son, Jim Knox, began his career in 1945 helping on termite jobs and sitting the night watch on fumigation jobs at the age of fifteen. With the business growing rapidly, Jim was moved to Columbus, Georgia, in 1952 to oversee an emerging new territory that would one day become the “home office” for all of the Knox Pest Control operations. Jim’s son, John Knox, who joined the business as a fifteen-year-old termite helper, would later graduate from Wheaton College and Samford University’s Cumberland Law School. John then rejoined the family business in 1975. The legacy continued with John’s oldest son, Justin Knox, coming on full time in 1997 after graduating from Troy State University. Sean Knox, the younger brother, joined the business in 2000 after graduating with a BBA from Georgia Southern University and later received his MBA from Baylor University in 2020. With the addition of both Justin and Sean, Knox became one of the very few fourth-generation families of pest control specialists! Knox Pest Control is one of the largest pest control companies in the southeast, serving Georgia, Alabama and North Florida, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
