EXHIBIT 99.1


                                FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. (NYSE:FLE)

                                Paul M. Bingham, Senior Vice President - Finance

                                Fleetwood Announces the Retirement of Founder
                                and Share Repurchase

                                Paul M. Bingham     (909) 351-3504
                                Lyle N. Larkin      (909) 351-3535

                                January 13, 1998 at 7:30 a.m., EST


                FLEETWOOD ANNOUNCES THE RETIREMENT OF FOUNDER

                             AND SHARE REPURCHASE

     RIVERSIDE, CA, January 13,1998  -  Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., the
nation's largest producer of manufactured housing and recreational vehicles,
announced today that John C. Crean, founder of the Company, will retire as
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.  The Company has agreed to
purchase the 72-year old Mr. Crean's current shareholdings at $34 per share,
which is an eight percent discount to the closing market price of $36.9375 on
January 12, 1998.

     As a part of the Company's orderly management succession plans, Fleetwood
also announced the appointment of Glenn F. Kummer as the new Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer.  Mr. Kummer has been the Company's President and Chief
Operating Officer since 1982.  Nelson W. Potter has been named to replace
Mr. Kummer as President and Chief Operating 


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Officer, and has been appointed a member of the Board of Directors.  Mr. 
Potter was previously the Company's Executive Vice President - Operations.

     The Company is in the process of pursuing appropriate financing
arrangements to purchase Mr. Crean's 5.2 million shares, which represent
approximately 14 percent of the Company's currently outstanding Common stock. 
It is expected that the purchase transaction will be completed within 30 days.

     The purchase of Mr. Crean's shares represents a continuation of the
Company's long-term plan of share repurchases, which is intended to enhance
shareholder value.  In 1996, the Company successfully completed a Dutch Auction
tender offer for the purchase of 7.7 million shares of Common stock, and also
purchased 2.4 million Common shares from Mr. Crean, then representing 30 percent
of his holdings.

     Mr. Crean, who founded the Company in 1950, will become Chairman Emeritus
and is also expected to continue to consult with the Company in the area of
recreational vehicle product development.





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