8-K

                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                        Washington, D.C.  20549

                               FORM 8-K

                            CURRENT REPORT

                 Pursuant to Section 13 or 15d of the

                  Securities and Exchange Act of 1934


                      ---------------------------

                   Date of Report (Date of earliest
                    event reported) March 19, 1999



                            WLR Foods, Inc.
        (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

          Virginia            0-17060             54-1295923
         (State of       (Commission File    (IRS Employer Iden-
        Incorporation)        Number)           tification No.)


                       P.O. Box 7000       22815
                    Broadway, Virginia  (Zip Code)
               (Address of Principal executive offices)


                            (540) 896-7001
                    (Registrant's telephone number,
                         including area code)



Item 5.   Other Events


On March 19, 1999, the Company issued the press release attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.









                               SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                              WLR FOODS, INC.



__March 24, 1999__            By:__/s/ Dale S. Lam__
       Date                        Dale S. Lam
                                   Chief Financial Officer and 
                                   Vice President of Finance



Exhibit Index


     Exhibit 99     Press release dated March 19, 1999

EX-99

Exhibit 99


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                              Contact:     Kathleen W. Lawrence 
                                           Director of Corporate 
                                           Communication
                                           (540) 896-0406


WLR FOODS ANNOUNCES SEARCH FOR SALES AND MARKETING VICE PRESIDENT

Broadway, Virginia, March 19, 1999 - WLR Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: WLRF)
today announced that Ruth J. Mack, Executive Vice President of Sales
and Marketing, has resigned, effective March 30, 1999, to accept a
general management position in the Global Consumer Products Division
of Reynolds Metals Company.  WLR Foods also announced that it has
begun an active search for a candidate to fill the position, which it
expects to be completed in three to six months. In the interim, Jane
T. Brookshire, Vice President of Administration, will coordinate the
Company's sales and marketing programs.  Mrs. Brookshire reports
directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer.

James L. Keeler, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "I join
the rest of the officers and employees of the Company in thanking Ruth
for her hard work and in wishing her well as she accepts this
wonderful opportunity at Reynolds Metals.  We have in place an
outstanding team that has been instrumental in creating brand identity
for our products and driving sales in the retail, foodservice, and
institutional markets.  This same team will continue its excellent
work as we commence our search to find the appropriate executive to
build on our sales and marketing successes."

WLR Foods is a fully integrated provider of high quality turkey and
chicken products primarily under the Wampler Foods(R) brand.  It is
nationally ranked as the seventh largest poultry processor by sales
volume and is an international leader in poultry exports. WLR Foods
has processing operations in Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia,
and Pennsylvania.

Certain statements in this news release regarding future expectations
and financial performance, other than historical information, may be
regarded as "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Except for
historical information, the matters set forth in this release include
forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those in the forward looking statements.  Potential risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as



fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials such as the
grains used in our poultry feeds, market conditions for products and
competitive proteins both domestically and abroad, weather, flock
health, and changes in federal, state, local and foreign regulations
and laws affecting our ability to transact business.