  We consider the symmetric exclusion particle system on $\mathbb{Z}$ starting
from an infinite particle step configuration in which there are no particles to
the right of a maximal one. We show that the scaled position $X_t/(\sigma b_t)
- a_t$ of the right-most particle at time $t$ converges to a Gumbel limit law,
where $b_t = \sqrt{t/\log t}$, $a_t = \log(t/(\sqrt{2\pi}\log t))$, and
$\sigma$ is the standard deviation of the random walk jump probabilities. This
work solves a problem left open in Arratia (1983).
  Moreover, to investigate the influence of the mass of particles behind the
leading one, we consider initial profiles consisting of a block of $L$
particles, where $L \to \infty$ as $t \to \infty$. Gumbel limit laws, under
appropriate scaling, are obtained for $X_t$ when $L$ diverges in $t$. In
particular, there is a transition when $L$ is of order $b_t$, above which the
displacement of $X_t$ is similar to that under a infinite particle step
profile, and below which it is of order $\sqrt{t\log L}$.
  Proofs are based on recently developed negative dependence properties of the
symmetric exclusion system. Remarks are also made on the behavior of the
right-most particle starting from a step profile in asymmetric nearest-neighbor
exclusion, which complement known results.
