Forsyth County

School custodian in Cumming in running for nation’s top janitor

CUMMING, Ga. — In the halls of Kelly Mill Elementary School in Cumming, he is the big man on campus.

“They treat you like a superhero and it’s the coolest thing in the world,” Rich Toomey said.

“Mister Rich! Mister Rich!,” the students in the crowded lunchroom Tuesday screamed his name with high fives all around for the school’s longtime head custodian.

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“He connects with the kids, teachers, and parents. Our community knows him,” Principal Tracey Smith told Channel 2′s Berndt Petersen.

They also nominated him for Custodian of the Year.

It’s a nationwide contest sponsored by the Cintas uniform company.

Thousands applied and Toomey has made the top 10.

The school put his 90 letters of recommendation in a special book.

“I have never come across a custodian as dedicated and hardworking as Richard,” Toomey read from the book.

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He’s also a good friend who knows most of the kids by name. The outside of his office is decorated with dozens of the cutest hand-written cards and drawings.

Toomey said the little ones are what this is all about.

“Just to be around them every day and see them grow and learn; I’m so thrilled to be a small part of that,” Toomey said.

You can vote for him at custodianoftheyear.com.

If Toomey wins he gets a $10,000 first prize and a trip to Vegas.

Kelly Mill Elementary will win $5,000 worth of custodial equipment, and a school building inspection worth $30,000.

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