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                                EXHIBIT 20(a)



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    COMSTOCK
   RESOURCES


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             NEWS RELEASE



Contact:     Roland O. Burns
             Senior Vice President
             (214) 701-2000



                        COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. CLOSES
                       $15 MILLION PREFERRED STOCK ISSUE


             DALLAS, TX, June 19, 1995--Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock" or
the "Company")(NASDAQ-NMS:CMRE) announced today that it has completed the
previously announced private placement of 1,500,000 shares of its Series 1995
Convertible Preferred Stock, $10 par value (the "Series 1995 Preferred Stock"),
for $15 million to certain investment funds managed by Trust Company of the
West.  The Series 1995 Preferred Stock will receive a quarterly dividend of 22
1/2c. per share (9% annual rate on the par value) and is convertible, at the
option of the holder, into shares of common stock of the Company.  Based on the
initial conversion price of $5.25 per share of common stock, each share of
Series 1995 Preferred Stock is convertible into approximately 1.9 shares of
common stock.

             $10 million of the proceeds from the placement will be used for
Comstock's $51.25 million acquisition of producing oil and gas properties and
gas gathering systems from Sonat Inc. and the remaining $5 million will be used
to fund developmental drilling on the Company's existing properties as well as
the properties being acquired from Sonat Inc.  Comstock also announced that the
Company has received a commitment from NBD Bank and Bank One, Texas to finance
the remaining portion of the $51.25 million acquisition from Sonat Inc.  The
acquisition is expected to close by July 31, 1995.

             "We are pleased to have Trust Company of the West increase their
investment in the Company," stated M. Jay Allison, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Comstock.  "The proceeds of the offering, in combination
with borrowings under our bank credit facility (as amended), will finance the
Company's $51.25 million acquisition from Sonat as well as accelerate our
development program".

             Comstock Resources, Inc. is a rapidly growing independent energy
company engaged in oil and gas property acquisitions and oil and gas
exploration, development, and production in the United States.





     5005 LBJ FREEWAY . SUITE 1000 . DALLAS, TEXAS  75244  (214) 701-2000