Southern California looked a little different back in the early 1930’s when my grandfather, Al, began chasing rats from local warehouses and businesses. The downtown construction boom had sent rodents scurrying everywhere. Panicked, many business owners called upon the services of Lloyd Pest Control, which, at the time, consisted of one exterminator. Rats are nocturnal, so Granddad often waited until nighttime to enter warehouses. He favored a .22 caliber rifle which he loaded with bird shot. My grandfather had a great commitment to getting rid of his customers’ pests – and an even better aim. The word got out.