Randall Rollins
Richard Randall Rollins | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 November 1931 Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | 17 August 2020 (aged 88) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Known for | Chairman of Rollins Inc. |
Richard Randall Rollins (November 5, 1931 – August 17, 2020) was a prominent American billionaire entrepreneur who served as chairman of Rollins Inc., the leading pest control enterprise in the United States, which includes the Orkin Exterminating Company. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Early life
Known by the nickname "Triple R," R. Randall Rollins was born in Georgia on November 5, 1931. He was the son of O. Wayne Rollins and Grace Crum Rollins and had a younger sibling, Gary Rollins. Raised on his grandparents' farm near Ringgold, Georgia, he gained early business experience by working alongside his father and uncle, John W. Rollins, who had shifted from agriculture to various business ventures. After completing high school, Randall served in the United States Coast Guard until 1953.
Career
Randall’s father and uncle initially acquired a radio station in Radford, Virginia, which evolved into the Rollins Broadcasting Company. Following his discharge from the Coast Guard, Randall became involved in both family enterprises. By 1961, Rollins Broadcasting had gone public. Three years later, it had grown to include ten radio and television stations and operated the fourth-largest outdoor advertising firm in the nation. The company further diversified by acquiring citrus farms and Satin Soft cosmetics, entering the personal care sector.
In a historic deal in 1964, Rollins Broadcasting purchased Orkin Exterminating Company for $62.4 million through what was recognized as the first leveraged buyout in U.S. history. Randall assumed leadership of Orkin while continuing to expand Rollins Broadcasting’s portfolio. His brother Gary joined him under the umbrella of Rollins Inc. By 1969, the company’s revenues surpassed $106 million.
In 1984, Rollins Inc. divided into three publicly traded entities: Rollins, Inc., focusing on pest control through Orkin; Rollins Communications, dedicated to media and advertising; and RPC Energy Services Inc., specializing in oil and gas services. Randall took on roles as president and COO of Rollins Communications, chairman of Rollins Inc., and chairman, CEO, president, and COO of RPC Energy Services. In 2001, Marine Products Corporation was spun off from RPC Energy Services with Randall serving as chairman; this company manufactures fiberglass boats under brands such as Chaparral, Robalo, and Vortex. Additionally, he held directorships at Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment Inc. and Dover Motorsports.
By 2014, Randall appeared on The Forbes 400 list at position No. 225 with an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion. As of August 2020, Forbes valued his fortune at $5.1 billion, placing him at No. 148 on their list.
Philanthropy
In 1991, Randall Rollins and his wife Peggy founded the Peggy and Randall Rollins Foundation, later renamed the Ma-Ran Foundation. The foundation primarily supports initiatives in education, healthcare, community development, human services, and faith-based programs. In July 2016, they contributed $1 million via Ma-Ran toward establishing the new Lewes Public Library in Delaware; concurrently, the former library was renamed the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center.
Rollins supported numerous organizations based in Atlanta including the Winship Cancer Institute and played a key role in founding the Rollins School of Public Health in 1990. In 2018, both the R. Randall Rollins Charitable Lead Annuity Trust and the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation made donations to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The foundation provided a $65 million gift in 2019 to finance the R. Randall Rollins building at Emory University and also contributes to the Candler School of Theology along with the O. Wayne Rollins Research Center.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Randall and Peggy donated $1 million to Beebe Healthcare’s Relief Fund for COVID-19 efforts. After Randall’s passing that year, the Beebe Medical Foundation received a $3 million donation from the Rollins family in 2022 to establish the R. Randall Rollins Center for Medical Education.
Controversies
In August 2010, Randall Rollins was sued by the four children of his brother Gary, who accused him of improperly managing their trust fund. The primary complainant, Glen Rollins, initiated legal action concerning disputed financial distributions, with his siblings and their mother Ruthie—who was concurrently filing for divorce from Gary—joining the case. Randall’s five children aligned themselves with both their father and Gary throughout the conflict. The family’s pest control enterprise was estimated to be worth around $8 billion. Following nearly a decade of legal proceedings, the involved parties ultimately agreed to a confidential resolution.
Personal life
Randall Rollins wed Peggy Hastings in 1953, and together they had six children. The family initially resided in Lewes and Wilmington, Delaware, before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia. Among their children, Rita Anne Rollins passed away before him; the remaining survivors are Richard, Pamela, Robert, Timothy, and Amy. Both Randall and Peggy were active members of the Lewes Yacht Club.
Randall Rollins passed away on August 17, 2020, at the age of 88 after a short illness.