Published: October 13, 2008 01:01 am         

Filling his father’s shoes

Chasten carries on role of integrity and respect in business

As a young boy, Palestine native Jimmy Chasten recalls very well working with his father, James, in the family pest control business — walking in his father’s big footsteps carrying equipment around the home.

And over 45 years later, Chasten continues to tread in those footsteps — never forgetting the lessons of honesty, integrity and respect for customers taught to him by his dad.

“Dad founded the Chasten Exterminators in 1962, and was one of the first pest control companies to be licensed by the Structural Pest Control Board of Texas,” Jimmy Chasten said. “He served his customers pest control needs in Palestine and surrounding areas for 45 years, up until his death in December of 2007.”

Jimmy Chasten, started working with his father full time in 1998, after moving back to Palestine from Dallas.

“I practically grew up in the business,” he said. “Dad would take me out on jobs and I would carry the hose behind him. I’m not sure if I was more a help or a hindrance, but I worked with him a lot as a kid.”

Jimmy accepted the role of business owner and manager in 2005, but as his dad was not ready to retire completely, the two continued to work together for another two years.

“Even after Dad got sick last year, he would ride out with me to jobs just to see the customers,” Chasten said. “And even after he could no longer go with me, he would asked if I had taken care of them.

“Dad knew his customers by name, always treating them with respect.”

Chasten said that the lessons learned from his father about the pest control industry and customer service remain a top priority still today.

“Dad instilled in me honesty and a desire to please our customers and protect their homes and businesses from pests,” Chasten said. “He gave me a knowledge of the industry that I probably could not have learned anywhere else.

“His motto was: If they are there, they will show you; if they are not, we will tell you.”

Chasten Exterminating remains a family owned and operated company. Jimmy Chasten’s wife of 17 years, Janie, answers the phone and keeps schedules and his mother, Winona, continues to keep the company’s books.

“It’s kind of a joke in the family that we kill pests for a living,” Chasten said. “I tell people I am a hired killer, and our granddaughter says we ‘bang-bang’ kill bugs.

“But it doesn’t seem weird to me to be in the pest control business. I grew up with it.”

Chasten hopes to see the business continue to serve the community for the next generation. The family’s youngest son, who is currently in college, has expressed some interest in taking on the business in the future.

“The greatest thing to me about being part of this business, was that not only were my dad and I father and son and business partners, but we were also best friends,” he said. “I got to work with my best friend every day, and I consider myself blessed to have done so for 20 years.”

Chasten Exterminators is located at 1001 W. Debard St. in Palestine. They can be contacted at 903-729-4874.

————

Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com

     

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.