While many business owners dream of being able to pass their enterprise on to their children, Roderick Edwards’ parents urged him to do his own thing. It wasn’t out of concern, though; they didn’t want him to feel handcuffed to their business. So he set his sights on a medical career. He graduated pre-med and enrolled at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, intent on becoming a heart or plastic surgeon. But when his dad wanted to retire, Edwards put the brakes on a medical career and took over day-to-day operations of the family business.
Seth Ward founded Triple-S Alarm, a residential security company, in 1975. Two years later, he sold the business to Rick Edwards, and his wife, Mary. Since then, the Edwardses, along with sons, Roderick and Chad, who manage day-to-day operations today, have built Triple-S into one of the largest family-owned low voltage contractors in the South. They cover the entire state from offices in Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Northwest Arkansas, and their products and services include mass notification, access control, video surveillance, nurse call, audio and video solutions, U.L. safety certifications, testing and inspections, and our own in-house U.L. Central Monitoring Station.
“Most building and homeowners require peace of mind and reliability when it comes to monitoring their systems,” Roderick says. “When a fire alarm, panic, or break-in occurs, a quick response by fire, police, and medical can mean the difference in life or death. That’s why Triple-S Alarm Co., provides our own in-house UL Central monitoring station. Rest assured that professional operators will respond to your every need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

The company’s success over the decades is firmly rooted in the belief in customer service.
“We don’t ever want to lose sight that our customers are the ones who have made all of our accomplishments possible,” he says. “I was always told, ‘Take care of the customer, and the customer will take care of you.’
“For 43 years now, there’s a Triple-S sign or truck everywhere you go,” Roderick says. “There’s a lot of dedication because they know our family is from Arkansas. We understand the community. We’re giving back to the community through education, philanthropy and scholarships.”
The Edwards family are members in the Towers of Old Main giving society at the University of Arkansas, has endowed a scholarship for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s nursing program, regularly donates to UAMS and The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and has the student-athlete entrance of UALR’s Jack Stephens Center named in their honor.
“Our thought is: when it’s all over, you’re not going to take your money with you. So, help others,” Roderick says. “Make this life richer. Invest in others with educational opportunities and scholarships. Give back to Arkansas.”
The lessons on the successful symbiotic relationship between business, customer and community are ones that Roderick says he hopes his nieces and nephews are learning.
“We’re trying to set a good example for the next generation of Edwardses that are going to be in this business and keep this company going.”

501.664.4599 • triplesalarm.com