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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Cxy5dDWj2FjJ0t6uCgs+AVtf2e94YQ4uK68vyDfruzqjM8Jplxw2aFtogb7+7dHt
 8kt6Kdi5NCvS7HLQqz/Bxw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-013372.txt : 20030708
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-013372.hdr.sgml : 20030708
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030708164611
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-013372
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030703
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030708

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCGINLEY JAMES F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001165510

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-02816
		FILM NUMBER:		03778754

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O STARLOS LIGHTWAVE, INC.
		STREET 2:		7444 W. WILSON AVENUE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60706-4549

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			METHODE ELECTRONICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000065270
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC CONNECTORS [3678]
		IRS NUMBER:				362090085
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7401 W WILSON AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60706
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7088676777

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7401 WEST WILSON AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60706
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd12829.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 JULY 2003
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-03</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000065270</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METHODE ELECTRONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>METHA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001165510</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCGINLEY JAMES F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Option to purchase</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>11.44</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-03</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>5000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>11.44</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2004-01-03</value></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2013-07-03</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Class A common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Robert J. Kuehnau, Attorney-in-Fact for James W. McGinley</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----