Anniversary

Fountain Hills' Sam the Bug Man turns 30

Owner looks back on early years

From left, Noah Crothers and his uncle Tony Crothers stand near a vintage sign that used to hang above their shop. (Cyrus Guccione/Independent Newsmedia)

Sam Crothers’ son, Tony (left) and grandson, Noah, are the faces of Sam the Bug Man, which celebrates 30 years in business this December. (Cyrus Guccione/Independent Newsmedia)

When Sam Fanelli was providing pest control services in Fountain Hills out of the trunk of his car, a school bus pulled up the street.

“These third and fourth graders get off the school bus and say ‘Oh look, it’s Sam! Sam the Bug Man!’ And my dad said, ‘That’s it! That’s it!’” Sam’s son Tony Crothers said, who is celebrating 30 years in business this December.

Crothers worked a few good years alongside his father and brother Chris before they passed away and passed the business onto him.

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