EXHIBIT 99.1

[LOGO OF SPARTON CORPORATION]                                     NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rhonda Aldrich
January 10, 2003
(517) 787-8600

SPARTON CORPORATION APPROVES THE ISSUANCE OF A 5% COMMON STOCK DIVIDEND

(JACKSON, MICHIGAN)-Friday, January 10, 2003-Electronics Design and
Manufacturing Service (EMS) Provider, Sparton Corporation (NYSE:SPA), approves
the issuance of a 5% Common Stock dividend.

At a meeting held today, the Board of Directors approved a 5% stock dividend.
The stock dividend will be paid to eligible shareowners of record on January 21,
2003. The dividend distribution or payment date has been established as February
18, 2003. Cash will be paid in lieu of any fractional shares of stock.

David W. Hockenbrocht, President and CEO and Bradley O. Smith, Chairman of the
Board of Directors, both of whom are focused on short and long term shareholder
value, were pleased with the Board's approval of the stock dividend. Mr. Smith
stated, "We believe stock dividends are an excellent way to reward shareholders
and demonstrates our commitment to enhance shareholder value and liquidity of
Sparton stock over time."

For more information, please contact Rhonda Aldrich. Sparton Corporation at
(517) 787-8600 or visit the Sparton website at http://www.sparton.com/.

"Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: To the extent any statements made in this release contain information that
is not historical, these statements are essentially forward-looking and are
subject to risks and uncertainties, including the difficulty of predicting
future results, the regulatory environment, fluctuations in operating results
and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.