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                                SCHEDULE 14A
                               (Rule 14a-101)
                  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                          SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

              Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the registrant /X/

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Check the appropriate box:

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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)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

      / /   $125 per Exchange Act Rule O-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or
            14a-6(j)(2).

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            Rule 14a-6(i)(3).

      / /   Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)
            and O-11.

      (1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

      (2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:


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      (3)   Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule O-11:

      (4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

      / /   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act Rule O-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the
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                        [WLR FOODS, INC. LETTERHEAD]




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


                    WLR FOODS BOARD WRITES SHAREHOLDERS


Broadway, Virginia, May 12, 1994 -- WLR Foods Inc.'s board of directors today
sent a letter to its shareholders urging them to vote against Tyson Foods'
proposal to acquire voting rights at the upcoming May 21 shareholders'
meeting.  In the letter, the board spoke to the company's "greatly increased
production, stronger poultry prices, reduced costs, and greater name and 
product recognition" as factors in growing shareholder value.  The complete 
text of the letter follows:



May 12, 1994


Dear Fellow Shareholders:

Your Special Meeting of Shareholders is fast approaching on Saturday, 
May 21, and each of us wanted to take just a moment to thank everyone in-
volved -- our shareholders, producers, employees and friends -- for their
continuing strong support.  Your loyalty and resolve are deeply appreciated
and the source of our strength.

WLR Foods shareholders -- the true owners of our prospering Company -- will
soon decide a matter of vital importance to your Company's future:  whether
Tyson and its affiliates should be granted voting rights for shares of WLR
Foods they may acquire, or have acquired, in their unfriendly takeover
attempt.  That's the legal issue, but the real issue, according to Don
Tyson and his latest advertising campaign, is whether Tyson should go home
to Arkansas.  Your Board urges you to take Tyson up on his promise to go
away if Tyson loses the vote at the Shareholders' Meeting -- vote AGAINST
the Tyson proposal so WLR Foods can get on with building and realizing its
own exciting future.

We know you've received a lot of paper since Tyson started its hostile
takeover attempt, but we do want to make a few observations about what Don
Tyson has been saying.

                                  - more -


 2


WLR FOODS BOARD WRITES SHAREHOLDERS
May 12, 1994
Page 2

Don Tyson offered $30 for your stock only because HE BELIEVES IT'S WORTH
MORE.  Your Company's recently completed capital investment program is now
producing benefits for shareholders -- clearly evidenced by our strong
third quarter financial results.  All of us are doing our best to make that
future a reality -- for all WLR Foods shareholders.

We've thought carefully about resuming our discussions with Tyson.  When we
discussed a transaction with Tyson, he refused to offer more than $30 per
share.  For four months, Tyson has not moved from its lowball bid of $30. 
It would be a mistake and not in the best interests of all WLR Foods
shareholders to resume discussions, just as it would be a mistake for Tyson
to obtain voting rights based on such an inadequate price.

We urge you to vote AGAINST the Tyson proposal to send Don Tyson a message
that you aren't willing to trade your opportunity to participate with us in
the growth of WLR Foods for his inadequate $30 offer.

You should also know that we have been working on obtaining appropriate
financing for general business purposes, including the ability to purchase
shares of WLR Foods should Tyson terminate its tender offer, as well as to
provide us with the ability to grow as we have in the past, through
strategic acquisitions that build value for all shareholders.

We are poised and ready for the challenges of growing shareholder value. 
Building on third quarter profits, we approach the profitable summer
chicken and Cassco(R) ice seasons with greatly increased production,
stronger poultry prices, reduced costs, and greater name and product
recognition.  Vote AGAINST the Tyson proposal by completing and mailing
your WLR Foods white proxy, if you haven't already done so.  Your latest
mailed proxy is the only one that will count.

As always, please call us at (703) 896-7001 if you have questions.  You may
also call D.F. King & Co., Inc., which is assisting us, toll free at (800)
669-5550.  On behalf of everyone at WLR Foods, thank you for your patience
and support.

Sincerely yours,



Charles W. Wampler, Jr.                James L. Keeler
Chairman, Board of Directors           President and Chief Executive
                                       Officer

Herman D. Mason                        William D. Wampler
Vice Chairman, Board of Directors      Director

 
 3

WLR FOODS BOARD WRITES SHAREHOLDERS
May 12, 1994
Page 3


George E. Bryan                        Stephen W. Custer
Director                               Director

Charles L. Campbell                    William H. Groseclose
Director                               Director

Calvin G. Germroth                     J. Craig Hott
Director                               Director




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.

                                    ###

 1

                   [WLR FOODS, INC. LETTERHEAD]




May 12, 1994



Dear Fellow Shareholders:

Your Special Meeting of Shareholders is fast approaching on Saturday, 
May 21, and each of us wanted to take just a moment to thank everyone in-
volved -- our shareholders, producers, employees and friends -- for their
continuing strong support.  Your loyalty and resolve are deeply appreciated
and the source of our strength.

WLR Foods shareholders -- the true owners of our prospering Company -- will
soon decide a matter of vital importance to your Company's future:  whether
Tyson and its affiliates should be granted voting rights for shares of WLR
Foods they may acquire, or have acquired, in their unfriendly takeover
attempt.  That's the legal issue, but the real issue, according to Don
Tyson and his latest advertising campaign, is whether Tyson should go home
to Arkansas.  Your Board urges you to take Tyson up on his promise to go
away if Tyson loses the vote at the Shareholders' Meeting -- vote AGAINST
the Tyson proposal so WLR Foods can get on with building and realizing its
own exciting future.

We know you've received a lot of paper since Tyson started its hostile
takeover attempt, but we do want to make a few observations about what Don
Tyson has been saying.

Don Tyson offered $30 for your stock only because HE BELIEVES IT'S WORTH
MORE.  Your Company's recently completed capital investment program is now
producing benefits for shareholders -- clearly evidenced by our strong
third quarter financial results.  All of us are doing our best to make that
future a reality -- for all WLR Foods shareholders.

We've thought carefully about resuming our discussions with Tyson.  When we
discussed a transaction with Tyson, he refused to offer more than $30 per
share.  For four months, Tyson has not moved from its lowball bid of $30. 
It would be a mistake and not in the best interests of all WLR Foods
shareholders to resume discussions, just as it would be a mistake for Tyson
to obtain voting rights based on such an inadequate price.

We urge you to vote AGAINST the Tyson proposal to send Don Tyson a message
that you aren't willing to trade your opportunity to participate with us in
the growth of WLR Foods for his inadequate $30 offer.

You should also know that we have been working on obtaining appropriate
financing for general business purposes, including the ability to purchase
shares of WLR Foods should Tyson terminate its tender offer, as well as to
provide us with the ability to grow as we have in the past, through
strategic acquisitions that build value for all shareholders.


                                 -- more --


 2

We are poised and ready for the challenges of growing shareholder value. 
Building on third quarter profits, we approach the profitable summer
chicken and Cassco(R) ice seasons with greatly increased production,
stronger poultry prices, reduced costs, and greater name and product
recognition.  Vote AGAINST the Tyson proposal by completing and mailing
your WLR Foods white proxy, if you haven't already done so.  Your latest
mailed proxy is the only one that will count.

As always, please call us at (703) 896-7001 if you have questions.  You may
also call D.F. King & Co., Inc., which is assisting us, toll free at (800)
669-5550.  On behalf of everyone at WLR Foods, thank you for your patience
and support.

Sincerely yours,



Charles W. Wampler, Jr.                James L. Keeler
Chairman, Board of Directors           President and Chief Executive
                                       Officer

Herman D. Mason                        William D. Wampler
Vice Chairman, Board Directors         Director

George E. Bryan                        Stephen W. Custer
Director                               Director

Charles L. Campbell                    William H. Groseclose
Director                               Director

Calvin G. Germroth                     J. Craig Hott
Director                               Director