RUG DOCTOR FRANCHISE MARKS 10TH YEAR OF SERVICE IN THE CITY

Bill and Brenda Bowen are observing a pair of business anniversaries.

This month marks the 10th year that the Bowens have operated the Rug Doctor franchise in Cape Girardeau.

And, 1991 marks the 20th year for the international carpet cleaning company, which was founded in 1971.

"Rug Doctor is observing its 20th year," said Brenda Bowen. "We bought the franchise here in 1981."

The Bowens operate their business from 540 Juniper Dr.

The foundation for Rug Doctor was established in the late 1960s when Roger Kent was operating a carpet cleaning company in Fresno, Calif.

For three years, Kent cleaned carpets and worked in his garage to develop a better carpet-cleaning machine.

He put his machine into use. Roger Kent teamed up with his brother, Bill, in a business to rent out his carpet care machines, and in 1971, "Rug Doctor" was born.

Roger Kent eventually purchased his brother's shares in the new company.

The program of renting carpet care machines became so successful in the Fresno area that Kent decided to develop a program to help licensees, who would buy the machines and cleaning products, to provide equipment to retailers in various territories.

Rug Doctor has captured about 40 percent of the market share of the rental business in the country.

Rug Doctor produced a complete line of carpet care products, including deodorizers, spot removers, shampoo and steam cleaning fluid for use with Rug Doctor rental equipment.

The firm has three manufacturing facilities in the U.S. at Fresno, Calif., Fenton, Mo., and in Maryland.