Exhibit 99.1

   Williams Controls Completes Recapitalization and Announces New Directors

    PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Williams Controls, Inc.
(OTC: WMCO) today announced the completion of its capital restructuring
following shareholder approval of each of the restructuring proposals.  The
proposals were first discussed in an August 30, 2004 press release and were
detailed in a consent solicitation statement mailed to all shareholders.  As
part of the restructuring, Williams redeemed 98,114 shares of the Company's
Series B 15% preferred stock at $265 per share.  The redemption resulted in
the conversion of the remaining 55,436 shares of Series B preferred into
approximately 11,761,000 shares of Williams' common stock and the conversion
of all of Williams' outstanding Series A-1 preferred shares into 11,849,000 of
Williams' common stock.  All of the repurchased Series B shares were held by a
fund managed by American Industrial Partners (AIP).  The remaining 31,886
shares of Series B preferred held by the fund were converted into common
stock.  Additionally, the shares of Series B preferred held by three senior
managers of the Company and two other investors were all converted into common
stock.  With the completion of the restructuring, no shares of Williams'
preferred stock remain outstanding.  The details of the transaction can be
viewed through the Company's web site link to the Company's EDGAR filings with
the SEC.

    The redemption of the Series B shares was funded through available cash
and a new five-year $25 million credit facility with Merrill Lynch Capital, a
division of Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services, Inc.  The new credit
facility will also provide for ongoing working capital requirements and
replaces the prior senior lending facility with Wells Fargo Credit.

    Williams also announced today changes to its Board of Directors. Gene
Goodson, Chairman, stated, "We welcome Mr. William Morris of AIP to the board
and thank Messrs Richard Bingham and Nathan Belden of AIP, who have resigned
their board positions, for their counsel and service on the board.  We also
welcome Messrs Peter Salas and Carlos Salas, both with Dolphin Asset
Management, to the board."  He continued, "We also welcome Mr. Pat Cavanagh,
previously announced as our new President and CEO, to the company.  All of
these changes are effective October 1, 2004."  He concluded, "Although AIP
will no longer have board control; the company values highly the continued
investment and involvement of AIP in the company.  Their investment has
allowed Williams Controls to reemerge as a long-term viable entity in its
market."

    ABOUT WILLIAMS CONTROLS

    Williams Controls is a designer, manufacturer and integrator of sensors
and controls for the motor vehicle industry.  For more information, you can
find Williams Controls on the Internet at www.wmco.com.

    The statements included in this news release concerning predictions of
economic performance and management's plans and objectives constitute
forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended.  These forward looking
statements are based on management's assumptions and projections, and are
sometimes identifiable by use of the words, "expect to," "plan," "will,"
"believe" and words of similar predictive nature.  Because management's
assumptions and projections are based on anticipation of future events, you
should not place undue emphasis on forward-looking statements.  You should
anticipate that our actual performance may vary from these projections, and
variations may be material and adverse.  You should not rely on
forward-looking statements in evaluating an investment or prospective
investment in our stock, and when reading these statements you should consider
the uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements.  Factors which could cause or
contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors
detailed in the Securities and Exchange Commission filings of the Company;
economic downturns affecting the operations of the Company or any of its
business operations, competition, and the ability of the Company to
successfully identify and implement any strategic alternatives.  The
forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of
the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update
these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE  Williams Controls, Inc.
    -0-                             10/05/2004
    /CONTACT:  Dennis E. Bunday, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Williams Controls, Inc., +1-503-684-8600/
    /Web site:  http://www.wmco.com /
    (WMCO)

CO:  Williams Controls, Inc.
ST:  Oregon
IN:  AUT CPR MAC OTC
SU:  PER RCN