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                                                                   Exhibit 99.2



           OIL-DRI'S BOARD APPROVES ACQUISITION, STOCK REPURCHASE
                              AND CASH DIVIDEND


CHICAGO -- March 12, 1998 -- Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE-ODC)
announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the pending
acquisition of the Fuller's Earth absorbent business of American Colloid, a
subsidiary of AMCOL International.

The Board also authorized the repurchase of a block of 342,000 shares from
director, Robert D. Jaffee. That purchase has exhausted the company's
authorizations for further stock repurchases at present.

"I am reluctant to sell my Oil-Dri stock," said Robert Jaffee.  "I am wholly
confident that the business is being well managed and it appears to have
excellent prospects, but I must face the realities of estate planning and the
interests of my family."

Richard M. Jaffee, Oil-Dri's chairman, commented,  "the Board believes that
purchase of this block of stock comes at a very good time for Oil-Dri. There
are a lot of positive events driving the business and it would be difficult
to find a block this large at the discounted rate of $15.00 per share which
we have agreed upon."

Since the May, 1994 authorization from the board, Oil-Dri has repurchased
more than a million shares of common stock and therefore reduced shares
outstanding by 15%.

The Board also declared a dividend of $0.08 per share for the Company's
Common Stock and $0.06 per share for the company's Class B stock. The
dividends are payable on June 12, 1998 to shareholders of record at the close
of business on May 15, 1998.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding the
company's expected performance for future periods and actual results for such
periods may materially differ. Such forward-looking statements are subject to
uncertainties, which include, but are not limited to, competitive factors in
the grocery, mass merchandiser and club segments of the consumer market; the
level of success of new products; changes in planting activity and overall
agricultural demand; changes in market conditions and the overall economy,
and other factors detailed from time to time in the company's annual report
and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Oil-Dri Corporation of America is a leader in developing, manufacturing and
marketing products and for pet care, industrial, environmental, agricultural,
and fluids purification markets.


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