Joe Thomas Endowed Professorship Established at the University of Tennessee to Honor Arrow Exterminators’ Chairman
Arrow Exterminators is proud to announce the establishment of the Joe Thomas Endowed Professorship at the University of Tennessee, honoring the company’s longtime owner and Chairman of the Board. The professorship recognizes Thomas’s remarkable contributions to Arrow Exterminators and the pest management industry while supporting education and leadership development for future generations.
The Joe Thomas Endowed Professorship at the University of Tennessee is being established to honor the extraordinary career, leadership, and enduring impact of Joe Thomas, a proud graduate of the University of Tennessee and one of the pest management industry’s most respected visionaries. Created with an initial gift of $100,000 and a commitment to raise an additional $500,000 through the pest management industry, this professorship will create lasting faculty support while celebrating Joe’s legacy of service, entrepreneurship, and industry advancement.
For 54 years, Joe Thomas has devoted his career to Arrow Exterminators, a company that has been in business for 62 years, serving as owner and Chairman of the Board and helping shape the company into one of the premier family-owned pest management firms in the nation. As the visionary behind Arrow’s growth, Joe has provided the steady leadership, values-driven culture, and long-term strategic direction that have guided the company to $500 million in annual revenue.
“The University of Tennessee helped shape my foundation for leadership, and it is my hope that this professorship will help prepare future generations to serve, lead, and strengthen the pest management industry for years to come.” – Joe Thomas
“To so many people, he is Joe Thomas, the visionary leader who helped build Arrow Exterminators into what it is today. To me, he is Daddy. I have had the blessing of watching him lead with humility, integrity, and a deep love for people. This professorship is a meaningful way to honor not only his remarkable career, but also the values he has lived every day and passed on to our family, our company, and our industry.” – Emily Thomas Kendrick, daughter of Joe Thomas and CEO of Arrow Exterminators
This endowed professorship reflects Joe’s deep commitment to education, leadership development, and the future of the pest management profession. By supporting exceptional faculty at the University of Tennessee, the professorship will strengthen teaching, research, and outreach that prepare future leaders, advance practical knowledge, and serve the needs of students, businesses, and communities.
Through the collective support of Arrow Exterminators, industry partners, colleagues, and friends, the Joe Thomas Endowed Professorship will stand as a permanent tribute to Joe’s remarkable service, his University of Tennessee roots, and his lifelong dedication to building people, companies, and an industry with vision and integrity.