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                              WLR FOODS, INC.
              (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                              WLR FOODS, INC.
                 (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

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computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule O-11:

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                       [WLR FOODS, INC. LETTERHEAD]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               Contact:      Gail Price, Director of
                                                  Corporate Communication
                                      Phone:      703-896-0403


                       KEELER SENDS LETTER TO TYSON



Broadway, Virginia, May 19, 1994 -- WLR Foods Inc. (NASDAQ:  WLRF) today
released the contents of a letter President and Chief Executive Officer
James L. Keeler sent to Don Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods.

May 19, 1994

Mr. Don Tyson
Chairman, Board of Directors
Tyson Foods, Inc.
2210 West Oaklawn Drive
Springdale, AR 72762-6999

Dear Don:

You surprised me with your call yesterday afternoon suggesting that we get
together tomorrow so I could tell you more about WLR Foods.  After all these
months you haven't offered anything new to our shareholders and yet you still
want to meet and obtain more information about WLR Foods.  Because WLR Foods
is a public company and one of your competitors, I think I gave you all the
information I could provide in good conscience during our discussions earlier
this year.

As we've told you before, if you make a proposal, WLR Foods will give it full
and fair consideration.  Even on our call yesterday, I told you I was ready to
listen to anything you had to say.  You've had almost four months to make a
proposal other than the one our shareholders have overwhelmingly rejected.
Given the proposal you've made, I don't believe any more meetings between us
would be in the best interests of WLR Foods shareholders.

                                    --over--
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KEELER SENDS LETTER TO TYSON
May 19, 1994
Page 2

I personally am looking forward to the results of Saturday's meeting.  I'll
see you then.

Sincerely,



James L. Keeler
President and Chief Executive Officer



WLR Foods is a fully integrated provider of high quality turkey and chicken
products primarily under the Wampler-Longacre(R) label and retail ice under
the Cassco(R) label.  This Fortune 500 company, with current annual revenues
of $710 million, exports to more than 40 countries and has processing
operations in Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, close to its major
mid-Atlantic markets.



                                      ###


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                              SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                     SATURDAY, MAY 21


                                         THANK YOU

                                  SHAREHOLDERS, PRODUCERS
                                   EMPLOYEES AND FRIENDS


for your strong support of WLR Foods in our efforts to prevent Tyson Foods'
hostile takeover attempt.  We believe our future together as an independent
company is brighter than Don Tyson's inadequate offer.  And so do so very
many of you.  In our view, it's time for Don Tyson to go back to Arkansas.

We deeply appreciate the support of all of you during this threat to WLR Foods
independence.  We recognize our responsibilities to you and we intend to
continue to justify the confidence that you have expressed in us.  And to
our shareholders, we will exert every effort to enhance the value of your
investment in WLR Foods.

                                                                                                    
/s/Charles W. Wampler, Jr.              /s/James L. Keeler                 /s/Herman D. Mason
Charles W. Wampler, Jr.                 James L. Keeler                    Herman D. Mason
Chairman, Board of Directors            President and Chief                Vice Chairman,
                                          Executive Officer                  Board of Directors

/s/ William D. Wampler                  /s/George E. Bryan                 /s/Stephen W. Custer
William D. Wampler                      George E. Bryan                    Stephen W. Custer
Director                                Director                           Director

/s/Charles L. Campbell                  /s/William H. Groseclose           /s/Calvin G. Germroth    /s/J. Craig Hott
Charles L. Campbell                     William H. Groseclose              Calvin G. Germroth       J. Craig Hott
Director                                Director                           Director                 Director




[Logo of Wampler-Longacre]        [Logo of WLR Foods]       [Logo of Cassco Ice
                                                             & Cold Storage]