Worthington Industries Declares Quarterly Dividend

    COLUMBUS, Ohio--May 19, 2003--At a meeting held on May 17, 2003, the board of directors of Worthington Industries, Inc. declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share, payable on June 29, 2003 to shareholders of record June 15, 2003. This marks the 142nd consecutive quarter that Worthington has paid a dividend since it became a public company in 1968.
    Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metal processing company with annual sales of approximately $2 billion. The Columbus, Ohio, based company is North America's premier value-added steel processor and a leader in manufactured metal products such as automotive aftermarket stampings, pressure cylinders, metal framing, metal ceiling grid systems and laser welded blanks. The company employs 8,000 people and operates 61 facilities in 10 countries.
    Founded in 1955, the company operates under a long-standing corporate philosophy rooted in the golden rule, with earning money for its shareholders as the first corporate goal. This philosophy, an unwavering commitment to the customer, and one of the strongest employee/employer partnerships in American industry serve as the company's foundation.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    The company wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("the Act"). Statements by the company, which are not historical information constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Act. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those projected. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks described from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.