Butler Manufacturing Company Chairman Announces Retirement.

Business Editors

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 2001

Butler Manufacturing Company (NYSE:BBR) announced today that Donald H. Pratt, chairman of the board, will retire at the end of the year. The company also announced that John J. Holland, currently serving as president and chief executive officer, would succeed Mr. Pratt as chairman of the board. Ron Rutledge, currently executive vice president, will become president and chief operating officer.

"Don Pratt's 36 year career exemplifies a commitment to excellence, responsiveness to customers and a personal interest in the development and success of Butler associates. He has played an important role in our continuing progress. His sense of humor and human touch, as well as his steady presence will be missed upon his retirement at the end of this year," Mr. Holland said.

Mr. Holland has been with the company for 20 years. He was elected president and chief executive officer in January 1999. He has had senior management responsibilities in the metal building systems division as well as previously serving as the company's chief financial officer.

Mr. Rutledge was named executive vice president in January 2001. Prior to that he served as president of The Vistawall Group since its acquisition by Butler in 1984 and has over 34 years of industry experience.

Butler Manufacturing Company is the world's leading producer of pre-engineered building systems and is a supplier of specialty components and construction services for the nonresidential construction market.

Statements in this press release concerning the company's business outlook or future economic performance; anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses or other financial items, together with other statements that are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under the Federal Securities Laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, industry cyclicality, fluctuations in customer demand and order pattern, the seasonal nature of the business, changes in pricing or other actions by competitors, and general economic conditions, as well as other risks detailed in the company's 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders on page 17.