Airgas Honors Patrick D. Macomber With Annual Scott Melman Award.

Business Editors

RADNOR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 30, 2003

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE:ARG) yesterday presented its annual Scott Melman Award to Patrick D. Macomber, vice president of operations for Airgas East, for his contributions to the successful integration of the U.S. packaged gas business acquired from Air Products.

The annual award is named for Scott M. Melman, former chief financial officer of Airgas, who died in 2001. According to the award's inscription, it honors "Airgas employees who exhibit the qualities we remember in Scott M. Melman: Professionalism, perseverance, enthusiasm, energy, a sense of honor, and the courage to speak up and make a difference."

"Pat Macomber has made a difference in the decade he has been with Airgas and especially during the last year as Airgas East completed its integration of business we acquired from Air Products," said Airgas Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter McCausland. "Airgas East was one of four regional companies with the lion's share of work and Pat's contributions helped make the integration so successful."

As part of the integration, Macomber oversaw major increases in production at three Airgas fill plants to replace capacity at sites that were closing and the consolidation of the former Airgas facility in Arbutus, MD into the acquired plant in Bladensburg, MD. "Pat led the team that in just a month doubled the production of the Bladensburg plant to more than 60,000 cylinders a month to accommodate the move," said McCausland.

"Pat never asks more than he is willing to do himself. Perhaps the best example of Pat's perseverance, enthusiasm, energy was during a major snowstorm in February 2003," said McCausland. "Pat drove 500 miles from his home in Massachusetts to Bladensburg through the blizzard and was there Monday morning to help the staff dig out. When people see how much Pat cares, they cannot help but support him. Under Pat's leadership our Bladensburg staff has achieved a new level of excellence at one of the largest fill plant in the U.S."

Throughout his 11 years of service at Airgas, Macomber has helped complete major fast-fill plants in Cheshire, CT, and Salem, NH. He first joined Airgas in 1993 as an operations manager for Northeast Airgas. Macomber is the former owner of Airgenics Industries in Worcester, MA, an independent distributor that was acquired by Airgas, and has more than 35 years of broad based experience in the packaged and bulk gas industry.

About Airgas, Inc.

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG) is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases, welding, safety and related products. Its integrated network of nearly 800 locations includes branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers. Airgas also distributes its products and services through eBusiness, catalog and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer base. For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.