Carlos Cantu, Retired Senior Chairman of The ServiceMaster Company, Dies at Age 69.

Business Editors/City Desks

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2003

Carlos Cantu died at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Thursday evening, September 18, 2003 at the age of 69. He died after a long battle with cancer and resulting complications.

Mr. Cantu was retired senior chairman of The ServiceMaster Company, a leading company in providing consumer services to more than 10.5 million customers through Terminix, TruGreen-ChemLawn, TruGreen-LandCare, American Home Shield, American Residential Services, Rescue Rooter, American Mechanical Services, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Amerispec and Furniture Medic.

Mr. Cantu graduated from Texas A&M University in 1955 with a degree in agricultural economics. He began his career with the Cook Industries Agri-Products Group based in Mexico. In 1970 he joined Terminix International, then a subsidiary of Cook, and held various management and executive positions including president. Mr. Cantu joined ServiceMaster in 1986 when it acquired Terminix and was appointed president and CEO of The ServiceMaster Company in 1994. During his tenure, ServiceMaster experienced one of the strongest periods of growth and increased shareholder value in the company's history.

"Carlos leaves a legacy of service, care and accomplishment," said Jon Ward, chairman and CEO of The ServiceMaster Company. "He was a man known for his gracious demeanor and thoughtful leadership. Carlos gave freely of his time to our company and to many worthwhile organizations. We all benefited from his involvement, guidance and counsel. He will be sorely missed."

Mr. Cantu was active in and honored by many civic, educational, business and non-profit organizations. He served as board member for DePaul University, Exelon Corporation, First Tennessee National Corporation, The Field Museum in Chicago, Christian Brothers University and the Dixon Gallery and Gardens Museum in Memphis.

In 1999, Mr. Cantu established the Carlos H. Cantu Hispanic Education and Opportunity Endowment at Texas A&M University to seek solutions to the nation's serious Hispanic student drop-out problem.

Mr. Cantu received the Horatio Alger Award in 1997, which honors outstanding individuals who have succeeded in spite of adversity. He was also honored with the Ellis Island Medal of Freedom in May 2000, and as the Society of Entrepreneurs 2000 Entrepreneur of the Year. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas A&M University in 2003.

"All of my brothers and my sister feel that my father was the best teacher any child could have. His lessons covered all aspects of our lives and we are all better people for having been his children," said Albert Cantu, current president and COO of Terminix.

A native of Brownsville, Texas, Mr. Cantu lived in Germantown, Tenn. with his family. He leaves his wife of 48 years, Gloria, six children: Carlos Cantu, Jr., Albert Cantu, David Cantu, Jorge Cantu, Gloria Cantu Shrewsbury and Lorenzo Cantu; and 17 grandchildren.

Services for Mr. Cantu will be held Thursday, Sept. 25 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Germantown, with visitation Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. A Rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. the day of the visitation. The family requests any memorials be sent to the Carlos H. Cantu Family Foundation Fund for Gastric Cancer Research, account number 80011494, at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. For more information, call 1-800-525-5841.