Busboy finds $3,000 in Cash in Diner, Hands it over to boss

GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO (KKCO) A busboy was at work at a Colorado diner when he found three thousand dollars in cash.

He said he didn't know who it belonged to but what he did know it didn't belong to him.

At Randy's Southside Diner in Orchard Mesa you find regulars like Darrell Cox 3 or 4 times a week.

And hard working people like Johnny "Thumper" Duckworth making the experience pleasant and comfortable.

"These people who come in here our family to us, we take care of them," Johnny "Thumper Duckworth/Busboy at Randy's Southside Diner

Last tuesday, Darrell came in for breakfast and sat down at booth #10.

He paid and left not realizing he forgot something very important behind.

Around this time Johnny was talking to his boss, owner Randy Emmons.

"He's worked for me for 9 years. He's one of the hardest working guys I've ever met,” Randy Emmons/Owner of Randy's Southside Diner said.

"It's usually more than what I do work for but that's ok I like it I love my job," Johnny Duckworth/Busboy at Randy's Southside Diner said.

Johnny went about collecting dishes, washing them, and checking the house to make sure the diner was spotless.

"I was coming around here to check around like I always do, I wanted to look in the bathroom. Just laying on the floor, dead as a door knob just laying there. So I picked it up and the boss was standing right here," Johnny Duckworth/Busboy at Randy's Southside Diner said.

 "He walked up to me and said "boss I found this envelope it feels like it has a lot of money in it," Randy Emmons/Owner of Randy's Southside Diner said.

And he handed it to the owner and walked away. Emmons opened the envelope up and there was 30 $100 bills.

“I couldn't believe it I was shocked,” Randy Emmons/Owner of Randy's Southside Diner said.

Emmons said he was shocked by the amount but also knowing that money is something Johnny desperately needs.

"Right now he's riding his bike back and forth to work. It is winter. And he gets his paycheck garnished for medical bills he had to have,” Randy Emmons/Owner of Randy's Southside Diner said.

But the thought of pocketing the cash never crossed Johnny's mind.

"It's not mine. I work for a living I make money," Johnny Duckworth/Busboy at Randy's Southside Diner said.

Randy took the cash and the slip back to the bank where clerks quickly realized it belonged to someone who had no idea he even lost it.

"The bank called and I was like why is the bank calling me to tell me they have my money when I just got the money. So I went to the bank and they told me Randy brought it in,” Darrell Cox/Had $3,000 returned by Johnny said.

But Randy and Johnny had no idea who it belonged to until Thursday when Darrell came back to his regular spot.

"He was here at the counter and I was back at the booth with one of my grandsons, I wrote him a note on the back of an envelope. It said Merry Christmas to a super honest guy,” said Cox.

"His nephew came with the same envelope that had the $3,000 in it. Gave me $300 out of it. Cool. The heart, gave me some heart,” Johnny Duckworth/Busboy at Randy's Southside Diner said.

"Makes me feel a lot better about people. Knowing there are a lot of honest people out here. Like I said I never have known where it went, I would have never had a clue,” Darrell Cox said.