EXHIBIT 99.1


    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


         In connection with the Annual Report of Encore Wire Corporation (the
"Company") on Form 10-K for the annual period ended December 31, 2002 as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),
I, Vincent A. Rego, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby
certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

         (1)      The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
                  amended; and

         (2)      The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Company.




                                          ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION


Date: March 21, 2003                  By:  /s/ VINCENT A. REGO
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Vincent A. Rego
                                          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
                                          (principal executive officer)