Custodian Returns Bag With $108,000

Southern Utah University Employee Finds Bag Of Cash, Doesn't Hesitate To Turn It In To Police

(CBS/AP)  Jared Gray could've taken the money and run.

But when the 18-year-old custodian at Southern Utah University found more than $100,000 in cash in the school's parking lot last month, he didn't hesitate. He turned it in to campus police.

"I showed up about 5:45 p.m. and as I was walking in, I found a bag laying in the parking lot," Gray told The Early Show. "When I picked it up, I realized it was one of the deposit bags and it had $108,000 written on it."

Gray said his dad, a police officer, raised him to do the right thing.

School officials said the bag was accidentally dropped as it was being transferred from the school to the bank.

The Early Show did a little math to help Gray, who makes $7 an hour, figure out how long it would take him to earn $108,000. It comes roughly to 15,428 hours of work - that would be 7 1/2 years. Does Jared have any second thoughts?

"No," he says. "Of course not. My parents raised me to do the right thing always."

The college said if Gray wants to attend the school, they will foot part of the bill to show its thanks.

"And I got $20 and a batch of M. & M. Cookies," Gray added.

[mexinvasion]

He''s a much better man than me. I woulda had my house paid off.

[janders78]

ok you know what gwno1 you need to shut your mouth.... i hope you get diharra and lose everything you have!!!! so shut up and this young man dersves more than you should ever get!

[pat1967-2009]

Second Half:

The University has offered him a full-tuition scholarship for next year and we hope that he will accept, but we also know that many great schools will try to enroll him next fall based on the demonstration of his character that was recently reported in the news.
You are not alone in your thoughts about this young man. Earlier today I received an anonymous phone call from a lady who just wants his mailing address so she can send him her own reward check in the mail. We are not only proud of Jared but of all of our campus. Our director of public safety pointed out to me today that we have wallets, lap top computers and car keys turned in to his office every week. He summarized the situation here perfectly when he said, "If you are going to lose something, this is the perfect place to lose it because there is a great chance you are going to get it back."

Once again, thank you for your concern about this wonderful action taken by our employee and rest assured that we are making sure he knows we are genuinely grateful for what he did.
Best wishes,

Dean O''Driscoll

Dean O''Driscoll
Southern Utah University
Director of Marketing & Public Relations, and Assistant to the President for University Relations
351 W University Boulevard,
Admin. Bldg. 312C
Cedar City, Utah 84720
[phone]
F [phone]
[e-mail]

[pat1967-2009]

First Half of SSU''s reply to the email I sent:

Dear Sir:

Thanks so much for you note about our employee who found and turned in the lost money. We are thrilled that we have a young person with such great integrity in our employ at this time. We are confident we have hundreds of employees at SUU who would''ve done the same thing. We are also equally excited about the opportunity to have him join thousands of other great students next fall at Southern Utah University. It is disappointing that Fox News didn''t get the whole story because we agree with you in what an appropriate thank you might be for Jared Gray.

[lewiston14]

I very seldom see so much vial filth over a kid that did the right thing. You would keep the money pay off the car go on vacation no doubt buy drugs. What a bunch of winners you would probable take your grandmothers live savings to. That kid is felling pretty good about himself right now how are the haters felling? That good deed will follow him his entire life and some day you haters will be cleaning the toilets in his business for $4 an hour. You make me sick!

[incog-nito]

I know what I would have done.

[shanev137]

It would be really hard for an 18 year kid to hide $100,000 in cash...more than likely why he turned it in.

[bohemianmob]

His honesty indicates otherwise.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jumkey

All politicians are liars, it''s a job requirement

[jumkey]

He comes from a state the is at lease 80 per cent Republican. I bet he is a Republican.

Posted by minnick8

His honesty indicates otherwise.

[crazy_delco]

gwno1*** You being the winner would have gotten 15 minutes when they discovered it was you who found the bag and your filing your appeals get your sorry butt out of a criminal conviction...

[bohemianmob]

I thought that white people wouldn''t do custodian jobs?

[minnick8-2009]

jealous of what making 7.00 an hour . . .?
Posted by gwno1

No, jealous of his ten minutes of fame and you didn''t get yours yet.

[minnick8-2009]

I know for a fact that MAJORITY of the deposit was cash...very little checks or cc..
Posted by cashforsure

How do you know? Do you work in the Cashier''s Office at SUU?

[minnick8-2009]

It was over a hundred thousand in cash... there were only a couple of thousand in checks...

Most students pay the Cashier by check. There wouldn''t have been much of it in cash.

[minnick8-2009]

There is one thing for sure he not a republican.
Posted by aheadace

He comes from a state the is at lease 80 per cent Republican. I bet he is a Republican.

[minnick8-2009]

There is a reason for this story making the news and it has nothing whatsoever to do with honesty or integrity.
Jumkey

Really? Enlighten us please, what is the reason?

[omega39-2009]

He should have ask himself what would Enron do?

[jumkey]

I love these "just so" stories that keep the little people in line. Praise the lowly custodian, hard at word honest to a fault.

Would other more fortunate members of society act in a similar way?

If your insurance company could save $108k by denying your child lifesaving medical care, would they?

If your your employer could pocket $108k instead of employing you and thus put you out on the street, would he?

If you government could tax your class $108k and pass it on in cuts or subsidies to the wealthy, would it?

We all know the answer to these questions. People and organizations act this way every single day in this country and it rates not a passing comment on CBS News.

There is a reason for this story making the news and it has nothing whatsoever to do with honesty or integrity.

[cdfoxtrot]

His "reward" is an insult. A bit like that cabbie in New York who was given, what, $100 for returning a $4m violin. It''s crappy rewards like this that will encourage others to say screw it and keep whatever they find.

[cashforsure]

It was over a hundred thousand in cash... there were only a couple of thousand in checks...