News Release Details

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2004--Roto-Rooter Inc. (NYSE:RRR) (OTCBB:CHEQP) today announced that the Board of Directors has elected David P. Williams, 43, a Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer of the company. As a member of the executive management team, Mr. Williams will play a key role in strategic and financial planning and operations, as well as oversee treasury functions and investor relations.

Mr. Williams joined Roto-Rooter in 1990 as Vice President of Finance for The Omnia Group, a former subsidiary engaged in the manufacture and distribution of medical and dental products. He was promoted to Senior Vice President of Finance in 1992 and to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Omnia in 1993. He transferred to the Roto-Rooter Management Company subsidiary in 1998 as Chief Financial Officer and was named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer the following year.

Prior to joining Roto-Rooter, Mr. Williams worked for Price Waterhouse as manager of Comprehensive Professional Services from 1983 to 1990.

Mr. Williams holds a B.A. in accounting from Michigan State University. In addition, he earned his M.B.A. with high honors from Michigan State University's Executive Management Program.

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Roto-Rooter Inc. (www.RotoRooter.com) operates in the residential and commercial repair-and-maintenance-service industry under the names Roto-Rooter and Service America Network Inc. Roto-Rooter also operates in the healthcare field through its VITAS Healthcare Corporation subsidiary. VITAS is the nation's largest provider of end-of-life hospice care services. Roto-Rooter is North America's largest provider of plumbing and drain cleaning services. Service America provides major-appliance and heating/air-conditioning repair, maintenance, and replacement services.

Statements in this press release or in other Roto-Rooter communications may relate to future events or Roto-Rooter's future performance. Such statements are forward-looking statements and are based on present information Roto-Rooter has related to its existing business circumstances. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risk that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Further, investors are cautioned that Roto-Rooter does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements based on unanticipated events or changed expectations.

    CONTACT: Roto-Rooter, Inc.
             David P. Williams, 513-762-6901

    SOURCE: Roto-Rooter, Inc.