EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE

                            [WORTHINGTON LETTER HEAD]



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                   JOHN CHRISTIE NAMED CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                    Christie will serve as President and CFO

COLUMBUS, OHIO, JANUARY 22, 2004 - Worthington Industries Inc. (NYSE:WOR)
announced today the appointment of company President, John S. Christie, as
Chief Financial Officer.

Christie, 54, has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Worthington
Industries since June 1999. He will retain the President's title as he moves
from COO to CFO.

"John has demonstrated his strong financial and leadership skills in his
oversight of this function over the past four months," John P. McConnell,
Chairman and CEO said. "In his experience as COO, Mr. Christie gained a deep
understanding of our operations and that will serve us well in his new area of
responsibility. Along with Worthington's excellent finance team, he brings solid
financial discipline to all areas of the company. Mr.
Christie will continue to provide us with great perspective and leadership."

McConnell also announced that the four presidents of the company's business
units will now be reporting directly to him. "I look forward to working closely
with the presidents," McConnell said. "We have a strong team in place and we are
well positioned to grow our business."

Christie brings more than 25 years of financial experience to his new position.
After earning his bachelor's degree in business administration from Miami
University of Ohio and his MBA from Emory University in Atlanta, he began his
career in banking as a financial analyst and as a national commercial loan
officer at The First National Bank of Atlanta, now Wachovia Bank. He helped
establish banks in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, for the then Cleveland Trust
Company. Before coming to Worthington, Christie most recently was president of
JMAC, Inc., a multi-million dollar, diversified investment company. He was also
senior vice president, corporate development, for Battelle, a leading global
research institution.

                                     -more-



WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
JANUARY 22, 2004
2-2-2


Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metal processing company with
annual sales of approximately $2 billion. The Columbus, Ohio, based company is
North America's premier value-added steel processor and a leader in manufactured
metal products such as automotive past model stampings, pressure cylinders,
metal framing, metal ceiling grid systems and laser welded blanks. The company
employs 8,000 people and operates 63 facilities in 10 countries.

FOUNDED IN 1955, THE COMPANY OPERATES UNDER A LONG-STANDING CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY
ROOTED IN THE GOLDEN RULE, WITH EARNING MONEY FOR ITS SHAREHOLDERS AS THE FIRST
CORPORATE GOAL. THIS PHILOSOPHY, AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE CUSTOMER, AND
ONE OF THE STRONGEST EMPLOYEE/EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY SERVE
AS THE COMPANY'S FOUNDATION.

                              SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

The company wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("the Act"). Statements by
the company, which are not historical information constitute "forward looking
statements" within the meaning of the Act. All forward-looking statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ
from those projected. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially include risks described from time to time in the company's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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