Exhibit 99

                                    Kathleen S. Dvorak
                                    Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
                                      and Financial Administration
                                               or
                                    Randall W. Larrimore
                                    President and Chief Executive Officer
                                    United Stationers Inc.
                                    (847)  699-5000

                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                        UNITED STATIONERS INC. ANNOUNCES
                     RESIGNATION OF EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT


     DES PLAINES, Ill. July 20, 2001 -- United Stationers Inc. (Nasdaq:USTR),
North America's largest distributor of business products, today announced that
Steven R. Schwarz, executive vice president and president of the supply
division, has resigned to pursue other business interests. For the near term,
his responsibilities will be assumed by Randall Larrimore, president and chief
executive officer.

     "Steve has been with United since June 1979 and has made many valuable
contributions to our company's growth and development," said Randall W.
Larrimore, president and chief executive officer. "We are indebted to him for
his efforts to ensure United is well-positioned to reach its goals for the
future. Our best wishes go with Steve as he enters the next phase of his
career."

COMPANY OVERVIEW

     United Stationers Inc., with trailing 12 months sales of $4.0 billion, is
North America's largest distributor of business products and a provider of
marketing and logistics services to resellers. Its integrated computer-based
distribution system makes more than 40,000 items available to 20,000 resellers.
United is able to ship products within 24 hours of order placement because of
its 38 United Stationers Supply Co. regional distribution centers, 25 Lagasse
distribution centers that serve the janitorial and sanitation industry, six
Azerty distribution centers that serve computer supply resellers, two
distribution centers that serve the Canadian marketplace and a distribution
center primarily serving clients of THE ORDER PEOPLE. Its focus on fulfillment
excellence has given the company a 98% order fill rate, a 99.5% order accuracy
rate, and a 99% on-time delivery rate. For more information, visit
WWW.UNITEDSTATIONERS.COM.

     The company's common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market System
under the symbol USTR and is included in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.





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