[University Update] Gift of a Lifetime

The foundation established by the late head of Atlanta-based Orkin is donating $1.5 million to further pest control research at Purdue University’s Department of Entomology.

The funding will support the O. Wayne Rollins/Orkin Endowed Chair in Urban Entomology to fund the work of a scientist, who will be selected later. The goal of the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation, created in 1967, is to support medical research and public health issues at colleges and universities. The gift will result in the creation of two chairs at Purdue through a matching funds endowment from another donor.

"Mr. Rollins was a visionary in building his business and in leaving a legacy that has positive effects on many people," said Purdue President Martin C. Jischke. "His family is furthering this tradition. We especially appreciate the foundation’s and his grandson Glen’s recognition of our entomology department’s leading role in both research and outreach. This support will measurably help curtail the economic losses and illnesses that result from infestations of insects and other pests."

Glen Rollins, Orkin president and COO, sponsored the request to the foundation on Purdue’s behalf. "We are very pleased to further our partnership with Purdue University by adding the Rollins/Orkin Chair of Urban Entomology to our education partners," Rollins said. "Rollins and Orkin have long held that insect education, at all grade levels, is key to understanding the important impact that these pests have on the environment as well as on our own health."

A NEW DAY FOR PURDUE. The new endowed chair is the first one established at Purdue’s Department of Entomology. The funding will strengthen ties with the pest control industry and underscores Purdue’s commitment to address pest control research and development priorities, said Steve Yaninek, department head.

"Urban pest control is one of the areas where we’ve had a long-standing relationship with industry," he said. "This interaction is an important way to develop new tools, tactics and technologies that are relevant to this industry. Through forward-looking research, we can find ways of applying these advancements to real problems.

"The Rollins/Orkin chair gives us the opportunity to move research into the real world to aid in preventing the destruction and disease caused by insects and other pests," he added.

The entomology department faculty conducts research and provides community education and advice concerning insects and other pests that damage structures and landscaping, as well those pests that infest food and food-processing facilities.

The Purdue scientist funded by the Rollins/Orkin donation will work with the industry as a specialist in the area of urban entomology research.

A nine-member committee, comprised of industry representatives and university officials, has worked for about a year to help raise funds for the new entomology chair. (See list below.)

The Rollins Foundation contribution enables the entomology department to fund another chair through the Bindley Chair Challenge, which will match the $1.5 million donation.

William Bindley, who graduated from Purdue with a bachelor’s degree in industrial economics in 1962, gave $52 million to the university, including $22.5 million to be used to match donations given to establish 15 endowed chairs at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus.

The Orkin gift announcement this month is part of a 10-day celebration that focuses on ways Purdue is improving education and helping Indiana as part of the university’s strategic plan and $1.3 billion fund-raising campaign.

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Fund-raising Committee Members
Judy Dold (committee chair), Rose Exterminator
Dan Moreland, PCT magazine
Austin Frishman, AMF Pest Management Services Inc.
Norm Ehmann, Univar
John Owens, S.C. Johnson & Son Inc.
John Osmun, professor emeritus, Purdue University
David Mueller, Insects Limited
Steve Yaninek, department head, Purdue Entomology
Eric Putman, director of development, Purdue Agriculture