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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Oldham Chemicals is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary on April 1. The Memphis-based distributor is using this opportunity to reflect on its storied past.
On April 1, 1966, a new business venture was formed by Millard L. Oldham, Jr. and Ada M. Oldham. Mr. Oldham has worked as a chemist in the wood treating industry for a few years and Mrs. Oldham had worked at the Veterans Hospital as a lab technician. They met in college while attending Arkansas State University and after a few years living in Memphis, they decided to try a new venture.
Mr. Oldham was the first traveling sales representative for the company and Mrs. Oldham took care of shipping the orders, answering the telephone and even repairing the sprayers for the pest control technicians. The only company vehicle was a used Ford truck that continued to need maintenance and repairs. Mr. Oldham would travel Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi and Mrs. Oldham would run the office.
The Oldhams were very instrumental in the formation of the Tennessee Pest Control Association and Mr. Oldham served as treasurer for several years. They have built a reputation on taking care of the customer and have always gone the extra mile to see that the customer is given the best service. They have assisted many new businesses in obtaining credit and allowed the small business person be able to purchase pest control products that are essential to running a pest control company.
Currently, the company has grown from a rented garage building in Memphis, Tennessee to an operation in Memphis that exceeds over 40,000 square feet and 13 branch offices in the southeast. Oldham now has service centers in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., along with other locations in Birmingham and Mobile, Ala.; Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Metairie, La; plus Little Rock, Ark.; Martinez, Ga.; Louisville, Ken.; Jackson, Miss.; and Springfield, Mo. The Oldhams have over 75 employees and 6,000 customers that they all consider as family that has been developed in 40 years in business.
The family tradition of supplying the pest control professional with “everything for the pest control industry” is still the major vision of the company. Mr. and Mrs. Oldham are still very much involved with the day to day operation of the company with their daughter and son-in-law, Marsha and Tommy Reeves together with their daughter, Stephanie are continuing the growth of the business.