Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
CROMIE SCOTT J
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SERVICEMASTER CO [SVM] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
AHS - PRESIDENT
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
3250 LACEY ROAD, SUITE 600		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/24/2005
(Street)

DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515-1700		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common stock $.01 par value 08/24/2005   M   30,375 A $ 9.2593 98,506 (1) D  
Common stock $.01 par value 08/24/2005   S   30,375 D $ 13.6408 68,131 (1) D  
Common stock $.01 par value               4,120 (2) I 401(k) plan
Common stock $.01 par value               9,280 I by spouse
Common stock $.01 par value               1,041 (3) I Deferred Comp
Common stock $.01 par value               880 I Cust. for children
Common stock $.01 par value               160 I Cust. for nephew

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
1997 Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 11.2222             02/13/1998 02/12/2007 Common stock $.01 par value 36,000   36,000 D  
1998 Emplee. Stock Option(Right to Buy) $ 11.5             12/10/2000 12/31/2009 Common stock $.01 par value 36,522   36,522 D  
1998 Emplee. Stock Option(Right to Buy) $ 18.075             01/29/2000 01/28/2009 Common stock $.01 par value 25,000   25,000 D  
1998 Emplee. Stock Option(Right to Buy) $ 18.075             01/29/2000 01/15/2014 Common stock $.01 par value 21,000   21,000 D  
1998 Emplee. Stock Option(Right to Buy) $ 18.2583             02/16/1999 02/15/2008 Common stock $.01 par value 27,000   27,000 D  
10+ Option Share Plan (Right to Buy) $ 9.2593 08/24/2005   M     30,375 02/16/1997 02/15/2006 Common stock $.01 par value 30,375 $ 0 0 D  
WSH Emplee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 13.87             05/04/2000 05/03/2006 Common stock $.01 par value 1,081   1,081 D  
2000 Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 8.75             08/08/2001 08/07/2007 Common stock $.01 par value 40,000   40,000 D  
2000 Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 9.88             03/18/2004 03/17/2013 Common stock $.01 par value 30,000   30,000 D  
2000 Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 10.3             12/18/2003 12/17/2009 Common stock $.01 par value 45,000   45,000 D  
2000 Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 10.52             03/16/2002 03/15/2008 Common stock $.01 par value 50,000   50,000 D  
2000 Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 13.83             02/08/2003 02/07/2009 Common stock $.01 par value 35,000   35,000 D  
2003 EIP Stock Appreciation Right $ 10.73             02/13/2005 02/12/2014 Common Stock 25,000   25,000 D  
2003 EIP Stock Appreciation Right $ 13.44             02/11/2006 02/10/2015 Common Stock 32,500   32,500 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
CROMIE SCOTT J
3250 LACEY ROAD, SUITE 600
DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515-1700		       AHS - PRESIDENT  

Signatures

 Sandra L. Groman by power of attorney   08/26/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes 78 shares purchased through the ServiceMaster Employee Share Purchase Plan during the months of April through June 2005.
(2) Includes 34 shares purchased through the ServiceMaster Profit Sharing and Retirement Plan during the month of May 2005.
(3) Includes 16 shares purchased through the dividend reinvestment feature of the Deferred Compensation Plan in February and May 2005.

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