EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  CERTIFICATION
                       PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
           AS ADOPTED BY SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

                     In connection with the Annual Report of the United
Industrial Corporation 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the "Plan") on Form 11-K
for the period ended December 31, 2002 as filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Report"), I, Richard R. Erkeneff, as Chief Executive
Officer of United Industrial Corporation (the "Company"), certify, pursuant to
18 U.S.C. ss. 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
that to my knowledge:

                     (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

                     (2) the information contained in the Report fairly
presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Plan.

Dated:  June 26, 2003

                                                    /s/ Richard R. Erkeneff
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Richard R. Erkeneff,
                                                    Chief Executive Officer
                                                    of the Company

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.