MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The pest control industry mourns the loss of Stoy Hedges, who for 40 years educated countless professionals as a hands-on trainer and as one of the industry’s most prolific writers. Hedges passed away on Sunday from complications that occurred at the onset of heart transplant surgery. He was 64.
Hedges spent the bulk of his career working for pest management companies throughout the Midwest and South, including a 25-year tenure as the senior technical entomologist with Terminix International, where he served as the in-house pest "answer man" for the company’s more than 4,000 technicians.
Hedges is remembered for his love of insects and his pest control acumen, which shone through during the numerous training seminars he presented, as well as the articles he penned for the PCT Media Group, including in the pages of PCT magazine, the PCT Field Guides and the Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, which is published by PCT’s parent company, GIE Media. Hedges served as the editorial director of eighth, ninth and tenth editions of Mallis — the 1,600-plus page “bible” of structural pest control.
"Stoy Hedges had the most impressive work ethic of anyone I've ever met in the pest control industry. As editorial director of several editions of the Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, he brought together some of the brightest minds in the industry to update and expand this essential educational resource, enhancing the legacy of Arnold Mallis, a man whom he admired for his industry contributions and love of entomology,” said PCT Publisher Emeritus Dan Moreland. “He remained incredibly productive even as his health challenges increased in recent years, a testament to his passion for entomology, which was apparent from the first day I met him while covering the Purdue Pest Management Conference many years ago."
Another of Hedges’ longtime industry colleagues, consultant Dr. Austin Frishman, served as an important sounding board for Hedges throughout the years. Frishman praised Hedges for his commitment to training, including organizing retreats in Missouri that were popularized by the late Blanton Whitmire. The PCT Field Guides were an important industry Hedges contribution, Frishman said, because they were hands-on. “I call them ‘meat and potatoes.’ Stoy had such vast [in-field] experiences that he was able to draw on for those books.”
Hedges grew up in a small town in Indiana where he developed an early fascination for insects. By the time he was 12, he knew he wanted to study entomology, which led him to enroll at Purdue University.
In May 1980, at age 20, Hedges was diagnosed with a rare form of testicular cancer. The surgery and subsequent six months of chemotherapy caused Hedges to lose his hair and what was once his lean physique of a powerlifter. Despite these hardships, Hedges persevered, not wanting to lose ground on his studies. As recounted in Hedges’ 2000 PCT Leadership profile by Dr. Gary Bennett, longtime coordinator of Purdue’s urban and industrial pest management program, “Even though his health was suffering, he always did a top-notch job. It didn’t seem to stop him from proceeding at full speed. It was pretty amazing.”
When Hedges enrolled at Purdue, his plans were to work in a laboratory studying the biology of some obscure insect. That never happened. During summers, Hedges was introduced to the structural pest control industry by working as a termite technician during summers for his hometown pest control company, Mooresville Pest Control. Upon graduating from Purdue in 1981 with a degree in Urban & Industrial Pest Control, his initial experience was gained by working for Mooresville as a service technician, sales representative and supervisor.
His next stop was Big State Pest Control of Houston, Texas in 1983, followed by ChemLawn’s PestFree division. After three-plus years at ChemLawn, he became director of technical services for Waste Management’s pest control venture. When WMI’s pest control operations were sold to ServiceMaster (parent company of Terminix International at the time) in 1990, he began his tenure there. While at Terminix, he was one of the company’s most recognizable figures, appearing on television programs for CNN, HGTV and the Discovery Channel.
In 2014, Hedges launched his own consulting firm, Stoy Pest Consulting. He remained a valued contributor to the industry and to PCT, serving as editorial director of Mallis, penning PCT features and serving as an important technical adviser, ensuring content was meeting the needs of the magazine’s readers.
"Stoy Hedges was a world-class entomologist, accomplished author and one of the industry's leading educational trainers,” Moreland said. “He was an even better man, devoted to his family, friends and work colleagues, as well as the thousands of pest management professionals he shared his passion for bugs with throughout his storied career. Stoy will be missed by all those who had the good fortune to know him or be in his presence at an industry trade show or educational event, but his life's work will live on for generations to come."
In 2019, Hedges was recognized with the John V. Osmun Alumni Professional Achievement Award in Entomology, which is presented annually by the Department of Entomology at Purdue University to an alumnus who has demonstrated excellence in their career as an entomologist or in a related field.
Hedges is survived by Kathy, his wife of 37 years.
Remembrances
“He's one of the most published authors in our industry, who was able write about so many subjects. It all came from his heart. He wanted to teach people about this industry, so not only can they appreciate it and respect it, but also help their customers and their company grow. He was very unique in that he could fit the gap or find a hook to meet you where you needed to be met with his brilliance of this industry. Whether you were an entomology professor or a technician wanting to learn more about ants. He would meet you at that level and share his love for helping people and also sharing this industry and what entomology is all about.” — Fred Strickland, vice president of technical operations - North America, Anticimex.
Stoy Hedges gave industry consultant Rick Cooper (early in his career) his first opportunity to edit a chapter in Mallis (the Earwig chapter). “I was overwhelmed by the responsibility, but Stoy convinced me that he would not have asked if you didn’t think I could handle it. I can’t thank him enough for having the confidence in me back then, as it opened the door and served as the launching pad, for so many opportunities that would come my way in throughout my career. Stoy was a giant in the industry when it came to training. His dedication to the pest industry is unparalleled, but more importantly, he was a good person and dear friend who will be missed greatly.”
"He was one of our most distinguished undergrads (as noted in his Osmun Award intro). But even more importantly, he was a great person. To this day, Stoy brought urban entomologists from around the world together to discuss topics of interest and importance (and to do a bit of rainbow trout fishing if so inclined). He and wife Kathy were perfect partners who enjoyed life together, even through his battle with heart disease. Stoy will always be remembered for his gentle personality and his professional acumen. He will be sorely missed." — Gary Bennett, Purdue University
"I, along with perhaps the entire pest management industry/family, am deeply saddened over the loss of Stoy. He’s been a dear friend and peer for over 40 years from the time we were entomology undergrads studying together at Purdue. During those four decades I got to know Stoy Hedges as one of the most dedicated, hardworking, gentle and kind human beings I’ve ever had the honor to know and collaborate with. He was also a person who always looked for the lighter side of life through some humor sprinkled in somewhere, somehow. During the course of any month over the years, Stoy would regularly surprise me with a Gary Larson 'Far Side' cartoon, exclaiming in bold capitals: “Hey Bobby, Look at this one — It’s REALLY funny!!” I came to litter my office wall and door with those forwarded toons; I called them “Stoys.” Although it is very hard to look at them right now, I know they will still be bringing me smiles and Stoy memories for years to come." — Industry consultant Bobby Corrigan
"Stoy worked for me when I first got to Terminix in 2012. He was aware, and we had discussed, that I was not nearly in his league as an urban and structural entomologist. He took it upon himself to educate me, and to ensure that my transition from medical entomology in the Navy to private industry pest control was as painless as possible. I was, and always shall be incredibly grateful that he looked out for me. Stoy was a 'gentle giant of gentility' and I sincerely doubt we shall see another of his ilk again.” — Stan Cope, vice president of technical services, AP&G
