Exhibit 32.1


      CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 1350 OF
                CHAPTER 63 OF TITLE 18 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE


I,  Jonathan  P.  Ward,  the  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive   Officer  of  The
ServiceMaster  Company,  certify that (i) the Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter  ended  September 30, 2003,  fully  complies  with  requirements  of
Section  13(a)  or  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 and (ii) the
information  contained  in such  Form  10-Q  fairly  presents,  in all  material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of The ServiceMaster
Company.




                              /S/ JONATHAN P. WARD
                              -----------------------
                              Jonathan P. Ward
                              Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
                              November 14, 2003


A signed  original of this  written  statement  required by Section 906 has been
provided to The ServiceMaster  Company and will be retained by The ServiceMaster
Company and  furnished to the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission or its staff
upon request.








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