J.T. Eaton Celebrates 75 Years

TWINSBURG, OHIO – When J.T. Eaton & Co. was founded in 1932, unemployment was higher than 24 percent. You could buy a loaf of bread for seven cents, a gallon of gas for 10 cents and – if you were one of the lucky ones not so hard-hit by The Depression – you’d likely shell out a mere $610 for a new car.

It was in those Herbert Hoover-led times that the J.T. Eaton & Co. came into being. However, the integrated pest and rodent management equipment leader did not gain its true footing until Stanley Baker purchased the company in 1949, with a $2,500 loan he took against his insurance policy.

Before his death in 2005 at the age of 87, Baker built J.T. Eaton & Co. into a multi-million-dollar company, pioneering such products as Eaton’s Bait Blocks, the first commercial paraffin-based rodent formula, in the 1950s. In 1980, Baker created Stick-Em Glue traps and worked tirelessly in improving rodent stations. In 1999, he helped patent an ant and roach product that used just 1 percent of boric acid. Today, the company is run by Baker’s sons, Ben and Bart. Bart Baker’s son, Dale, is vice president and continues the tradition for a third generation.

Giving Back
For several years running, the annual J.T. Eaton & Co. Scholarship has been given out at the Purdue Pest Control Conference Banquet every January. The 2007 winner is Margaret Schwinghammer, a Ph.D. student whose research currently focuses on investigating termite behavior using molecular techniques. Her goal is to develop a new mode of action for termite control.

“We’re really pleased that Margaret was chosen this year,” notes Dale Baker. “Her aspirations toward developing new pesticide delivery methods and formulations for the industry really reflect our company’s mission to stay on the cutting edge for practical, yet effective techniques.”

In addition, the Baker family recently added to their industry stewardship efforts by creating the Stanley Z. Baker Philanthropic Program. The program is intended to serve two purposes: One is to create additional scholarships for college students looking to enter the professional pest management industry, and the other is to team with pest management professionals to help people in need. For example, a PMP wanting to help a non-profit organization with a rodent or pest insect infestation free of charge could put in a request through the Stanley Z. Baker Philanthropic Program for donated product. “We feel that this is a great way to celebrate our anniversary – by giving back to the industry and the people that have supported us for 75 years,” Dale Baker adds.

To learn more information about the scholarship program or a donation request, contact Gary Schlosberg at 800-321-3421 or e-mail garys@jteaton.com.