EXHIBIT 99.1

     [Newell Rubbermaid logo]                                     News Release
     Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
     Freeport, Illinois
     SECURITIES LISTED NYSE/CSE
     Common Stock (Symbol-NWL)
     Web:  www.newellco.com

                       NEWELL COMPLETES RUBBERMAID ACQUISITION

        FREEPORT, IL March 24, 1999 - Newell Co. (NYSE, CSE: NWL) and 
     Rubbermaid Incorporated announced today that their previously announced
     merger has been completed. As a result of the merger, former Rubbermaid
     shareholders receive 0.7883 of a share of Newell common stock for each
     share of Rubbermaid common stock they owned.  The merger was treated as
     a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes and will be 
     accounted for under the pooling of interests method of accounting. 
     The combined company is called Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and joins the 
     exceptional financial performance and superior customer service of 
     Newell with the powerful brand franchises and product innovation of 
     Rubbermaid.

         Based in Freeport, Illinois, Newell Rubbermaid Inc. is a multi-
     national manufacturer and marketer of high-volume, branded, staple 
     consumer products with restated 1998 sales of $6.2 billion.  Newell 
     Rubbermaid products are sold through a variety of retail and wholesale
     distribution channels in the following business segments:  Household 
     Products, including Mirro{RT} and Calphalon{RT} cookware, 
     Rubbermaid{RT} and Curver{RT} home products, Little Tikes{RT}, 
     Graco{RT} and Century{RT} infant and juvenile products, Anchor 
     Hocking{RT} glassware and Goody {RT} hair accessories; Hardware and 
     Home furnishings, including Levolor{RT}, Kirsch{RT} and Newell{RT} 
     window treatments, Amerock{RT}, EZ Paintr{RT}, BernzOmatic{RT} and 
     Bulldog{RT} hardware and tools, Intercraft{RT} and Burnes{RT} picture 
     frames and Lee Rowan{RT} home storage products; and Office Products, 
     including Sanford{RT}, Berol{RT}, Sharpie{RT} and Rotring{RT} writing 
     instruments and Rolodex{RT} and Eldon{RT} office storage and 
     organization products.

        The statements contained in this press release that are not
     historical in nature are forward-looking statements. 
     Forward-looking statements are not guarantees since there are
     inherent difficulties in predicting future results, and actual
     results could differ materially from those expressed or implied
     in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, without
     limitation, those disclosed in Newell's and Rubbermaid's Form
     10-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in
     Newell's S-4 Registration Statement filed with the Securities and
     Exchange Commission relating to the merger.


        [Newell Rubbermaid logo]
        At Newell Rubbermaid
        Ross A. Porter, Jr.
        Vice President - Investor Relations
        6833 Stalter Drive
        Rockford, IL 61108
        Phone:  (815) 381-8150
        Fax: (815) 381-8155