8-K

 1




                               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):
                            September 19, 2000


                               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 September 19, 2000, Airgas, Inc. announced that Glenn Fischer,
formerly president of BOC Gases - North America, will be named as president
and chief operating officer effective November 1, 2000, as 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 September 19, 2000







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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/ Roger F. Millay
                                           Roger F. Millay
                                           Senior Vice President - Finance &
                                           Chief Financial Officer


DATED:  September 19, 2000

EX-99

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                                                      Exhibit 99


           AIRGAS HIRES GLENN FISCHER, FORMER BOC EXECUTIVE, AS
                   PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER


RADNOR, Pennsylvania - September 19, 2000 - Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG) today
announced that Glenn Fischer, formerly president of BOC Gases - North
America, will be joining the Company effective October 9, 2000.  Mr.
Fischer will be named president and chief operating officer effective
November 1, 2000, succeeding William A. Rice, Jr. who has announced his
retirement plans.

     "We are extremely fortunate to have an executive of Glenn's caliber
join Airgas," commented Peter McCausland, chairman and chief executive
officer.  "Glenn has a proven track record leading a business the size of
Airgas and he is well respected in the industry.  I personally have known
Glenn for many years and I am confident that he will make a significant
contribution to Airgas' future success through his strategic insight,
leadership and operating skills."

     Mr. Fischer stated, "I am very excited to be joining the Airgas
organization.  Peter and his team have built the largest and strongest
distribution network in the U.S.  This will serve as an excellent platform
for future growth and development of the business.  I am looking forward to
leveraging my 25 years of experience, 19 of which have been in the
industry, with the strong skills and capabilities that exist within the
Company to drive continued success and market leadership."

     Mr. Fischer worked for the BOC Group, a global industrial gas producer
and distributor, for the past 19 years in various commercial, business
development and financial positions.  Most recently he served as president
of North America operations and was a member of the BOC Group Executive
Management Board.  He received an MBA in finance and an undergraduate
degree in business management from Long Island University.  Mr. Fischer has
been a member of the board of directors of the Compressed Gas Association
and the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association.

     Mr. Rice, president and chief operating officer since January 1999,
will remain with Airgas on a full-time basis until March 31, 2001 to assist
with the smooth transition of his current responsibilities.  In addition,
Mr. Rice will continue in an important leadership role focusing on the
ongoing build-out of the national hardgoods distribution infrastructure and
will serve on the Airgas executive management committee.  He has agreed to
remain with the Company on a part-time basis until March 31, 2002, or
longer if necessary.

     Mr. McCausland added, "We sincerely thank Bill for his many
contributions during his tenure as president and COO.  Under his operating
leadership, we were able to move through our repositioning and regain our
sales momentum.  We are fortunate that Bill has agreed to remain with
Airgas, which will help provide for a seamless transition and continued
leadership for certain important initiatives."

     Airgas is the largest distributor of industrial, medical and specialty
gases and related equipment and one of the largest distributors of safety
products in the United States.  Airgas' integrated distributor network
consists of approximately 700 locations, including branches, packaged gas
fill plants, distribution centers and telemarketing operations.  Airgas can
be visited on the Internet at www.airgas.com.

Contact: Chris Close (610) 902-6257 or chris.close@airgas.com.