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                                                                      EXHIBIT 99


 Encore Wire Corporation                              Contact:  Vincent A. Rego 
 P. O. Box 1149                                       Chairman of the Board
 1410 Millwood Road                                   (and other Designees)
 McKinney, Texas  75069                               (214) 562-9473
 (214) 562-9473                                      


                                 Press Release
                                 -------------

                                  May 8, 1996


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                    ENCORE WIRE ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGE

MCKINNEY, TX - Encore Wire Corporation (NASDAQ/NMS, WIRE) announced today that
at its May 7, 1996 annual meeting of stockholders each of the incumbent
directors of the Company were reelected for the ensuing year.  The directors of
the Company are Vincent A. Rego, Donald M. Spurgin, Donald E. Courtney, Arthur
A. Gingell, Daniel L. Jones, John P. Pringle, William R. Thomas and John H.
Wilson.  In addition, Mr. Rego, who has been Chairman of the Board of the
Company since its inception in 1989, was elected to the additional position of
President and Chief Executive Officer at the directors meeting following the
annual meeting of stockholders.  Mr. Spurgin, who had been President and Chief
Executive Officer since inception of the Company, was elected to the position
of Vice Chairman of the Board.  Mr. Spurgin will continue to be employed by the
Company, but for health reasons, will assume a more limited role in the
management of the Company in the future.