Richard T. “Dick” Farmer, founder of Cintas Corp., passed away on August 4 at the age of 86.

Farmer was born November 22, 1934. Throughout his childhood and high school years, he worked for his father in the family’s business, Acme Wiper and Industrial Laundry. Farmer graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1956 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. After being honorably discharged from the Marines, Farmer began working full time for his family’s business in 1957, eventually taking over for his father in 1959.

In 1962, Farmer changed his family company’s name to Acme Uniform & Towel Supply. In 1968 Farmer established a second company, Satellite Corp., to provide uniform distribution to major U.S. cities. In 1973, Satellite acquired Acme to form Cintas Corp., with Farmer as the new organization’s CEO and chairman. Farmer continued to grow Cintas, taking the company public in 1983, and serving as its CEO until 1995. He continued in his role as chairman until 2009, when he assumed the role of chairman emeritus and remained on the company’s board of directors.

About Cintas
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corp. provides uniforms and apparel, restroom supplies, and mats as well as first aid, document management, and fire protection services. For more information, visit www.cintas.com.