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OEA Board Mourns Passing of Ahmed D. Kafadar

19 January 1998

OEA Board Mourns Passing of Ahmed D. Kafadar

    DENVER, Jan. 19 -- The OEA Board of Directors wishes to
express the deepest sympathy to the family of Ahmed D. Kafadar, OEA's late
Chairman, CEO and Founder, who passed away on January 17, 1998, at his home in
Englewood, Colorado.  The Board also wishes to note the great contributions
Ahmed Kafadar made to OEA, the aerospace and automotive safety industries and
Colorado.
    The Board will continue on the path set by Ahmed Kafadar.  OEA will
continue satisfying its customers with competitive products, providing its
shareholders with outstanding performance and providing its employees with
growth.
    The Board has unanimously elected Charles Kafadar, the son of Ahmed
Kafadar, as the succeeding Chief Executive Officer.  Charles Kafadar will also
continue as Chief Operating Officer and President, positions he has held since
1985.  He began full-time employment at OEA in 1976 following his employment
as member of the Technical Staff at TRW Systems Group and his Ph.D. from
Princeton University in Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences.
    The Board has also unanimously elected Robert Schultz as the succeeding
Chairman of the Board.  Robert Schultz has been an outside Board member since
1993, following his 37-year career in the automotive industry, including Vice
Chairman of the Board of General Motors.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree
in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters degree in Business Administration,
both from Michigan State University.

SOURCE  OEA, Inc.