EXHIBIT 99.1




CONTACT:  Timothy S. O'Toole                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                 (513) 762-6702



                                      Chemed Shareholders Approve Name Change
                                                to Roto-Rooter Inc.;
                                         Board Declares Quarterly Dividend



                  CINCINNATI, May 20, 2003--Stockholders of Chemed Corporation
(NYSE:CHE) (OTCBB:CHEQP) approved changing the company's name to
Roto-Rooter Inc. by more than 99 percent of the vote at yesterday's annual meeting of
stockholders.  The name change will take effect as soon as practicable, and the company's stock
will continue to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the new symbol RRR.
                  Also at the meeting, shareholders elected a slate of 11 directors and ratified the
continuation of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the company's independent accountants for
2003.
                                                 Dividend Declared
                  Following the meeting, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend
of 12 cents per share on the company's capital stock, payable on June 10, 2003, to stockholders
of record on May 30, 2003.  This represents the 128th consecutive quarterly dividend paid to
shareholders in 32 years as a public company.
                  Roto-Rooter Inc. (www.rotorooter.com), headquartered in Cincinnati, is a New
York Stock Exchange-listed corporation operating in the residential and commercial repair-and-
maintenance-service industry through two wholly owned subsidiaries.  Roto-Rooter is North
America's largest provider of plumbing and drain cleaning services.  Service America Systems
Inc. provides major-appliance and heating/air-conditioning repair, maintenance, and replacement
services.
                  Statements in this press release or in other Company communications may relate
to future events or the Company's future performance.  Such statements are forward-looking
statements and are based on present information the Company 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 the Company does not assume any obligation
to update forward-looking statements based on unanticipated events or changed expectations.
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