Brown Steps Down as Hecla CEO, Baker Steps In.

Business Editors

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2003

At today's Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Hecla Mining Company's (NYSE:HL) board of directors today accepted Arthur Brown's resignation as chief executive officer and appointed Phillips S. Baker, Jr., to replace him.

Brown, 62, who has been with Hecla for 36 years, today retired as CEO but will retain his position as chairman of the board. He has been CEO of Hecla since 1987.

Taking Brown's place as CEO will be Baker, 43, who has been president and chief operating officer of Hecla since 2001. He holds J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Houston and an accounting degree from Texas A&M University. Baker has 18 years of experience in the mining industry, having held executive positions with Battle Mountain Gold Company and Pegasus Gold Inc.

Baker said, "Art will still be fully involved as chairman of the board, and we are very glad to have his continuing guidance. He is leaving at a time when the day-to-day operations and finances of Hecla are in great shape. We are now positioned to move forward into growth and continued profitability. Our strategy is to build on Hecla's underground mining expertise. We hope to develop a number of gold projects we have in hand, allowing gold production to double over the next five years. In addition, we will take advantage of acquisition opportunities while maintaining our position as a major primary silver producer."

Brown said he's comfortable with his decision and the condition in which he's leaving the company. "I'm grateful to Hecla for giving me opportunities few people anywhere have ever had the chance to experience. I feel gratified that through the hard work and creative efforts of our people, we've been able to achieve a remarkable turnaround in our company and I am able to leave it in solid financial and operating condition. We have an excellent management staff and I have full confidence in their abilities to move Hecla forward under Phil's leadership. Although I'll still be very involved as chairman, I am planning to have a little more time to enjoy my family and recreational activities."

At the annual meeting, shareholders elected Brown to serve another three-year term. Also re-elected to the board for three-year terms were John E. Clute and Joe Coors, Jr. Shareholders also approved the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP, as independent auditors of the corporation for the current fiscal year.

At its regular quarterly meeting, in the interest of conserving cash for exploration, development and acquisition opportunities, the board of directors opted to defer the July 1, 2003, quarterly payment of dividends to the holders of Hecla Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.

Hecla Mining Company, headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, mines and processes silver and gold in the United States, Venezuela and Mexico. A 112-year-old company, Hecla has long been well known in the mining world and financial markets as a quality silver and gold producer. Hecla's common and preferred shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols HL and HL-PrB.

Statements made which are not historical facts, such as anticipated payments, litigation outcome, production, sales of assets, exploration results and plans, costs, prices or sales performance are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated, expected or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, metals price volatility, volatility of metals production, exploration risks and results, project development risks and ability to raise financing. Refer to the company's Form 10-Q and 10-K reports for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The company undertakes no obligation and has no intention of updating forward-looking statements.