Industry Mourns Loss of Dempsey Sapp, Sr.

NEW RIVER, Fla. — The pest control industry mourns the loss of Dempsey Sapp, Sr., 94, founder and chairman of the board of Florida Pest Control & Chemical Company, Gainesville, Fla. Sapp passed away on March 25.

 

A WWII veteran and University of Florida graduate, Sapp started Florida Pest Control & Chemical Company in Gainesville, Fla., in 1949, upon graduating from UF. The company has grown into one of the largest pest control companies in Florida.

 

Sapp was a strong supporter of UF entomology and nematology programs, including the establishment in 1999 of a $1 million endowed distinguished professorship in urban and structural pest control. The endowment supports the work of Phil Koehler, a professor of entomology who oversees UF’s Urban Pest Management Laboratory. In 2000, the Florida Pest Management Association honored Sapp with its first-ever Pioneer Award. In 1997, Sapp received the PCT Crown Leadership Award from PCT and Syngenta.

 

Upon retirement, Sapp served as chairman of the board for the company. His son, D.R. Sapp, Jr., is president and chief executive officer of the firm.

 

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Margie Beckham Sapp.

 

See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gainesville/obituary.aspx?n=DEMPSEY-ROBERT-SAPP&pid=179412756#sthash.kKhNqOV1.dpuf