8-K

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                                 UNITED STATES

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, DC  20549


                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT


                      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


               Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
                               January 19, 1999


                                 AIRGAS, INC.
            ______________________________________________________
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



   Delaware                        1-9344                    56-0732648
_______________            _______________________          _____________
(State or other            (Commission File Number)         (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                                             Identification No.)
incorporation)



                   259 North Radnor-Chester Road, Suite 100
                            Radnor, PA  19087-5283
                   _________________________________________
                   (Address of principal executive offices)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 687-5253
                                                     _____________




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Item 5. Other Events.
        ____________

   On January 19, 1999, Airgas, Inc. announced certain organizational changes
and management appointments described in the press release attached as Exhibit
99 and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
         __________________________________________________________________

(a)  None

(b)  None

(c)  Exhibits.

     99  Press Release dated January 19, 1999






























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                                  Signatures
                                  __________


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

                                        AIRGAS, INC.
                                        (Registrant)


                                   BY: /s/ Scott M. Melman
                                        Scott M. Melman
                                        Vice President &
                                        Chief Financial Officer


DATED:     February 2, 1999

EX-99

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                                                                 EXHIBIT 99.1


AIRGAS, INC. NAMES WILLIAM A. RICE, JR. PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER


RADNOR, PA, January 19, 1999 - Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG) announced today the
appointment of William A. Rice, Jr. as president and chief operating officer,
effective immediately.  He will report to Peter McCausland, chairman and chief
executive officer.

According to Mr. McCausland, "Our Repositioning Airgas for Growth initiative
included bringing our three operating groups together as One Airgas at the end
of our fiscal year in March, 1999. With two of the operating group presidents
wanting to move to new challenges, and with the reengineering/repositioning
efforts well along, this is the appropriate time for this important step.
Bill's years of experience in gas and industrial products distribution have
ideally prepared him for assuming the responsibilities of president and chief
operating officer of Airgas.  This does not entail any changes in the general
management of the business units.   I can now focus more of my attention on
strategic issues as we pursue growth opportunities to make Airgas a more
valued supplier to our customers and a more valuable investment for our
shareholders."

Other organizational changes:

     Hermann Knieling, executive vice president and group president
     Manufacturing, International and Business Engineering, announced last Fall
     his intent to retire March 31, 1999.

     Ted Schulte, previously president, Airgas Carbonic, has assumed
     responsibility for the Manufacturing Group as vice president Gas
     Operations.

     E. Pat Baker, group president Industrial Gas Distribution, also announced
     last Fall his intent to move back to Texas.  He will continue to serve as
     vice president, Airgas.

     Andrew R. Cichocki, previously vice president Corporate Development, has
     been promoted to senior vice president Business Operations and Planning.

In addition to Mr. Rice, Mr. Scott Melman, senior vice president and chief
financial officer, and Mr. Gordon Keen, senior vice president Law and
Corporate Development, will continue to report to Mr. McCausland.

Reporting to Mr. Rice will be Mr. Cichocki, Mr. Alfred Crichton, president
West Division, Mr. John Musselman, president East Division, Mr. Samuel
Goldstein, senior vice president Information Services, Ms. Caren Hosansky,
vice president Human Resources, Mr. Michael Molinini, vice president,
Hardgoods Operations, Mr. Theodore Schulte, vice president Gas Operations, and
Mr. Patrick Visintainer, senior vice president Sales.

Mr. Rice most recently was group president Airgas Direct Industrial,
responsible for building a world-class industrial distribution infrastructure.
He joined Airgas in 1992 when he sold his companies to Airgas, following
twenty years in the gas distribution industry.

Among his many activities, Mr. Rice is chairman of the Boards of Camcare, Inc.
and Charleston Area Medical Center, member, Board of Trustees, University of
Charleston, and member, Board of Directors, One Valley Bank.  He is a
recipient of the American Welding Society's 25-year award and has served in
leadership roles in numerous educational, civic, cultural, health and human
services organizations.

Mr. Rice received a B.S. degree in Marketing from West Virginia University in
1969.

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Airgas is the largest distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases
and related equipment in the United States.  Its distributor network includes
over 700 locations in 44 states.

CONTACT:  Airgas, Inc.
          Jim Rapp, (610) 902-6224
          Visit our web site at www.airgas.com