The ABCs of community began at Texas A&M

Some may recognize ABC Home and Commercial Services’ iconic name, distinctive anteater logo and Aggie maroon lettering from billboards scattered across parts of Texas, but what may not be known is this business transcends being merely a premier choice for maintaining a pest-free and pristine home.

For more than four decades, Bobby Jenkins Jr. ’81 has built ABC into a business rooted in the very values he learned at Texas A&M University, where he earned his business management degree from the Mays Business School.

“I truly believe that so much of the success of the business and closeness of my family is derived from Texas A&M,” Jenkins shared. “The values are the foundation of what we do. It’s why we care about how we treat others just as much as we treat pest control.”

Jenkins’ commitment to the community has led him to supporting the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences through scholarships, volunteering and generous contributions to the Leach Teaching Gardens, because he has seen the value of the research and opportunities in the College through his business.

With connections across campus and a passion for supporting Aggies, Jenkins was named the chair for the Association of Former Students’ Board of Directors, a year-long role that will allow him to serve Texas A&M University even more than he already has.

A bug for business and family

Jenkins’ father, Robert Williams Jenkins ’59, initiated the ABC legacy by opening its doors in San Antonio in 1949. Since its inception, ABC has remained a family enterprise.

“It was just my parents in the beginning. Dad would knock on doors while Mom handled phone calls in the office,” Jenkins reminisced. “My brothers and I were the little rug rats scurrying around Mom’s feet in the office.”

Upon Jenkins’ father’s retirement and the subsequent sale of the original business, Jenkins and his brothers, Raleigh ’83 and Dennis ’85, perpetuated ABC’s legacy by dividing the state into regions, with each brother assuming stewardship of a particular region.

“Each of us oversees our respective region’s business separately, yet it remains interconnected under the unified brand of ABC,” Jenkins clarified. His domain encompasses offices in San Antonio, Bryan, College Station, Corpus Christi, the Rio Grande Valley and Austin.

While ABC’s origins lie in pest management, Jenkins has broadened its scope to encompass mechanical services such as heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, lawn care, landscaping, irrigation, handyman services and more.

But even as the business has grown, Jenkins has remained steadfast in upholding the principles of community and family instilled by his father.

Jenkins and his wife, Jan ’82, raised their family “behind the orange curtain” in Austin. Despite this, all three of their children, Jessica ’08, Chelsea ’11 and Bo ’14, charted their paths to become Aggies themselves. Jenkins’ children and seven grandchildren reside within a mile of him, actively contributing to the family business.

“They represent the next generation of ABC,” he affirmed. “We emulate Texas A&M in our business. The culture, values and familial ambiance constitute the bedrock of ABC.”

Next level commitment

Jenkins’ commitment to community service is unparalleled. In addition to steering the family business and preparing the next generation for ABC’s stewardship, he co-founded RecognizeGood and is a current board member. He is also the past chair and ongoing board member of Austin Gives and contributes to the executive committee of the Texas Business Leadership Council. Additionally, he serves as the chairman of the Professional Pest Management Alliance and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.

Throughout his career, Jenkins has assumed pivotal roles in various organizations. He previously chaired the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He has held leadership positions in the Texas Pest Management Association and National Pest Management Association, while also serving as past chair for organizations such as the Better Business Bureau, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, United Way Annual Campaign, Caritas of Austin, the American Heart Association and the Alzheimer’s Association.

“I learned the value of community at Texas A&M,” Jenkins remarked. “The depth of commitment and passion of Aggies is just different. Serving others and giving back motivates me every day.”

When their father passed away in 1998, the Jenkins brothers established the Robert W. Jenkins ’59 undergraduate student urban entomology scholarship, a testament to their father’s profound belief in research at Texas A&M. “We are in the bug business. Research is paramount to the success of this industry, and Dad always instilled in us the need to support future entomologists.”

Honorary College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Aggie

Although Jenkins is not a former student of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, he has continuously supported the College in various ways. He has served on the College of Agriculture Development Council and even offers in-kind Christmas light installation services and other essentials to the Leach Teaching Gardens. For him, the College represents a beacon of agriculture and life sciences innovation and research, dedicated to enhancing and safeguarding public health from diseases and groundbreaking discoveries.

“We bring about 25 of our employees to the conferences hosted by the Department of Entomology every year. It’s so exciting to hear what students are working on,” he shared. “I’m proud to be associated with what I consider to be the premier entomology department in the country. We will forever stay connected to the College.”

Jenkins is currently recruiting his grandchildren to attend Texas A&M by instilling values and letting them experience the Aggie spirit for themselves at football games and more.

“It’s not that different from when I was there,” Jenkins said. “There are great students who are there to get an education, but it’s so much more than that. I don’t know what secret sauce Texas A&M has, but the connection to something bigger than yourself is unparalleled.”

That, he said, is and will continue to be an important part of his life.

“I must admit, it’s good for business to be connected to Texas A&M, but it’s much more than that,” Jenkins said. “I will spend the rest of my life looking for ways to live up to the standards of the Aggies who created a legacy of selfless service before me.”