Orkin Orkin began in 1901 when Otto Orkin founded the company . At the age of 14 , Otto borrowed fifty cents from his parents to start his own business . He had formulated a poison bait to help farmers in the community of Allentown , Pennsylvania get rid of the rats that had been plaguing them . By 1906 Otto had saved $ 5 , 000 and was ready to open his first shop in Richmond , Virginia . From these humble beginnings Otto founded Orkin Exterminating Company . Orkin , now , has more than 400 locations in North America with over 7 , 500 employees providing pest and termite control . As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins , Inc. , Orkin , Inc. provides essential pest control services to approximately 1.6 million residential and commercial customers . Timeline 1901 : Otto Orkin , a Latvian immigrant , starts peddling rodenticides door-to-door . 1912 : “Otto the Rat Man” opens his first office in Richmond , Virginia ; O. Wayne Rollins , founder of Rollins Inc. , is born . 1926 : Orkin opens an Atlanta office and begins establishing operations in other major southeastern cities . 1941-45 : The U.S. War Manpower Commission declares pest control a “needed service ; ” Orkin provides pest control and fumigation for 150 military establishments . Wartime innovations in pest control help position Orkin for strategic growth . 1948 : Rollins , Inc. is established as Wayne and brother John become partners ; John operating car dealerships and Wayne operating radio stations — each co-promoted the other’s business . 1954 : First Orkin television ad 1961 : Paul Hardy joins company as a part-time termite technician . 1964 : Rollins purchases Orkin Exterminating Company for $ 62 million , a figure seven times larger than Rollins revenues at the time . Transaction is first documented leveraged buyout in U.S. business history. , br > 1965 : Orkin purchases Arwell Pest Control , a Midwest company with 80 offices in nine states . Dettlebach Pesticide is acquired to supply Orkin with chemicals for its operations . 1967 : Orkin headquarters moves from Wilmington , Del. , to Atlanta , Ga. ; Gary Rollins joins the company as an Atlanta pest control/termite control sales inspector . 1968 : Rollins , Inc ( ROL ) begins trading on the NYSE . 1969 : Rollins Protective Services ( electronic security ) is formed ; Rollins enters the cable TV industry 1973 : Rollins enters the oil and gas field services business. , br > 1975 : R. Randall Rollins is named president and COO of Rollins Inc . 1977 : Orkin Lawn Care is formed . 1979 : Glen Rollins joins Orkin as a volunteer termite technician . 1984 : Randall Rollins is promoted to senior vice chairman of Rollins ; Gary W. Rollins is named president and COO . 1986 : Wayne Rollins receives the Horatio Alger Award , which is given to Americans who exemplify the rags-to-riches American Dream . 1988 : Forbes magazine recognizes Rollins Inc. as the “Nation’s Number One Service Company” based on its excellent return on equity . 1989 : The Orkin Exterminator Robot makes its national advertising debut . 1990 : Orkin Plantscaping is formed . 1991 : Rollins founder O. Wayne Rollins dies . Randall Rollins is named chairman of the board and CEO of Rollins , Inc . 1993 : Orkin announces the opening of the O. Orkin Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History ; the Orkin diamond becomes the first permanent logo inside the Smithsonian Institution 1997 : Rollins sells Orkin’s LawnCare , PlantScaping and RPS to focus on pest control . 1998 : The animated “Orkin Man” dethrones the Exterminator Robot as the Orkin marketing king . 1998 : Orkin re-engineers and relaunches Orkin Commercial as Acurid . Dedicated commercial branches are opened across the country . Orkin’s advanced termite treatment training program , developed exclusively for Orkin by Texas A & M University , is introduced nationwide – 1 , 400 employees earn completion certificates in 1998 alone . 1999 : Orkin purchases PRISM , Redd and PCO Services . The PCO purchase makes Orkin the largest pest management company in Canada . 2000 : “Fake Out” ad campaign debuts ; reports of broken TV sets smashed after confused viewers try to “kill” the cockroaches that appear to be on their TV screen. 2001 : Orkin launches Smithsonian O. Orkin Insect Safari with Bayer On September 9 , 1993 the 0 . Orkin Insect Zoo ( OOIZ ) opened at the Smithsonian Institution 's National Museum of Natural History in Washington , D.C. This permanent exhibit , made possible through a generous contribution from Orkin Pest Control , was created to encourage interactive learning and a better understanding about insects from all over the world as well as those found in the average backyard . The opening of the zoo marked the first time the Smithsonian enlisted a sponsor for a permanent exhibit in any of their museums . Orkin 's sponsorship is a natural extension of its educational initiatives which showcase the wonderful world of insects . In 1994 , Orkin will continue its commitment to educational programs , including visual presentations for middle and grade schools ; activities to help students learn more about insects in and out of the classroom ; and research grants for U.S. universities . Orkin will also continue its U.S. city tour with OOIZ insects to schools , zoos and museums . The Smithsonian 's popular insect zoo , which annually draws more than one million visitors , is the museum 's only exhibit where living creatures can be seen in their natural environments . The new insect zoo , located on the second floor of the museum , focuses not only on strange and beautiful insects , but also on the relationships insects have with plants , other animals and humans . The exhibit features over 300 live insects and arthropods , including giant cockroaches , tarantulas , tailless whip scorpions and walking sticks . Each of the insects in the zoo live in their own natural habitats , which have been painstakingly reproduced under the direction of entomologists and museum professionals . Included in the habitat displays are mangrove swamps , a living bee tree , a desert diorama , and an incredibly lush tropical rain forest . In addition , there are plenty of hands-on activities that encourage the OOIZ visitor -- adult or child -- to get better acquainted with insects and arthropods of all shapes and sizes . Of particular interest in the OOIZ is the `` Our House , Their House '' display which shows insects living in and around a giant 3-D home . By pushing buttons in front of the house , visitors illuminate the harborage areas for common household insects such as fleas , roaches , carpenter ants and silverfish . 