ABC Home & Commercial Services Celebrates 75 Years in Business

AUSTIN, Texas - This year, ABC Home & Commercial Services celebrates being in business for 75 years. ABC Pest Control was started in 1949 in San Antonio, Texas, and in 1965, Bob Jenkins, Sr., his wife, Sandy, and three young sons — Bobby, Raleigh, and Dennis — bought ABC. At the time, ABC was a small company with one technician, and Jenkins quickly grew it to be a successful pest control company for the San Antonio area. “Our 75th anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the organization and legacy, and every individual who has helped shape ABC today,” said Bobby Jenkins.

From janitorial duties to running pest routes, all three sons grew up working at ABC. Knowing all three of the sons wanted to go into the family business post-college, and most importantly, wanting to preserve the family harmony for the second generation, Bob and Sandy Jenkins took a map of Texas and divided it into thirds based on where Bob had sent his sons to run branches of ABC; Bobby in Austin, Raleigh in Houston, and Dennis in Dallas. Each son has his own territory of Texas that they still abide by to this day. This model, which is one of the most successful and unique succession models, allows the three brothers to share the brand, legacy, and essence of ABC, but also allows them to be three separate entities and companies.

Today, ABC is the largest independently owned and operated pest control company in Texas. ABC has offices in Austin, Bryan/College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Orlando, Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Tyler, and Waco, and employs over 2,100 people combined. Expanding beyond just pest control, the three brothers changed the name to ABC Home & Commercial Services, offering AC and heating, appliance repair, electrical, exterior cleaning, handyman, holiday and event lighting, lawn, tree  and landscaping, pest control, plumbing, pool and spa, and water quality services. 

Bobby, Raleigh, and Dennis all have continued their father’s legacy and built successful business in their communities. While the brothers have grown and diversified the business, one thing has remained constant over the past 75 years: being family-owned, community-focused, and employee-driven. Each brother is involved in their community, and giving back is part of the company’s culture. “It’s important to give back to the communities that have given so much to us, whether we are donating services to the less fortunate or volunteering to better the lives of others,” said Dennis Jenkins.

Beyond the business, the Jenkins family is a very unique and close family, which bleeds through into ABC’s family-like culture. Bob Jenkins graduated from Texas A&M University, the three sons and their wives all graduated from A&M, all 8 grandchildren graduated from A&M, and 6 of the 8 grandchildren’s spouses graduated from A&M. With all three brothers being owners of ABC in their respective territories, 11 of the 16 grandchildren and spouses currently work at ABC. Continuing their father’s legacy onto the next generation is always top of mind for Bobby, Raleigh, and Dennis. “We have each been very mindful of the next generation’s succession, keeping at top of mind how to keep the harmony between the third generation. I’m excited to see how they succeed and continue to grow the business; we have all the confidence in them,” said Raleigh Jenkins.