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                                             For More Information:
                                             James N. Borum
                                             Gordon L. Keen, Jr.
                                             Thomas C. Deas, Jr.
                                             (610) 687-5253

                   AIRGAS, INC. ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

RADNOR, PA, April 17, 1997.  Airgas, Inc. (NYSE - ARG) today
announced that the Board of Directors adopted a new stockholder
rights plan.  The Company's existing rights plan will expire in
1998.

Pursuant to the new plan, the Board declared a distribution of one
right for each share of common stock which is outstanding on April
29, 1997.  Common stock issued after April 29, 1997 will be issued
with an attached right.  Each right entitles the holder to purchase
one one-thousandth of a share of preferred stock at an initial
exercise price of $100 per share.

Initially, the rights will be attached to the Company's common
stock and will not be exerciserable.  Rights become exercisable
only after 10 days following the acquisition by a person or group
of 15 percent (or 20 percent in the case of Peter McCausland and
certain of his affiliates) or more of the outstanding common stock
or 10 business days (or a later date following such announcement if
determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the plan)
after the announcement of a tender offer or exchange offer to
acquire 15 percent (or 20 percent in the case of Peter McCausland
and certain of this affiliates) or more of the outstanding common
stock.

If such a person or group acquires 15 percent or more (or 20
percent or more, as the case may be) of the common stock, each
right (other than such person's or group's rights, which will
become void) will entitle the holder to purchase, at the exercise
price, common stock having a market value equal to twice the
exercise price.  The rights will have a similar effect if after
they become exercisable the Company merges or effects certain other
transactions.

In certain circumstances, the rights may be redeemed by the Company
at an initial redemption price of $.001 per right.  If not
redeemed, they will expire on April 1, 2007.  

A summary of the rights plan will be provided to Airgas
stockholders shortly after the record date.  Pending its expiration
in 1998, the old stockholder rights plan will be amended to provide
that it will not take effect if the new plan is triggered.

Airgas, Inc. is the largest distributor of industrial, medical and
specialty gases and related equipment in North America with annual
sales in excess of $1.2 billion.  Its distributor network includes
over 600 locations in 41 states, Mexico and Canada.  Airgas can be
visited via the Internet at http://www.Airgas.com.