Tommy Block Elects to Leave Dow

Freeport, TX - February 16, 2004

Tommy Block, vice president for Texas Operations, has elected to retire from Dow to pursue other interests.  Block will conclude five years as Freeport site leader in April, 2004. 

Block's thirty-year career spanned six different locations and included positions in production, engineering, maintenance, business and site leadership. He worked directly in or provided services to almost every Dow business.

Block is one of thirteen people to occupy this important role since Dow began Texas Operations in 1940.  After making the announcement, he commented on his experiences in Texas as leader of the largest employer in Brazoria County. "This has been a very rich and concentrated experience.  Anyone who has the opportunity to occupy this role will leave prepared for just about anything," he said. 

When discussing his decision to leave, Block noted that it was a difficult choice.  "It is like leaving your family, like leaving home to go to college or to join the military.  It is hard to do, but sometimes you've got to go in order to grow." 

Dow executive vice president for operations, Arnold Allemang, commented on Block's service to Dow.  "Tommy is a great leader, problem solver, business man and motivator.  We will miss his responsible leadership and good and friendly nature.  I am certain the people at Texas Operations and the Brazosport community will miss someone they have known and trusted for these past five years.  I know I join them in wishing him and his family all the best."  Allemang stated that he expects a successor to Mr. Block to be announced shortly.

Dow is a leading science and technology company that provides innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $33 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 180 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of susstainable development, Dow and its approximately 46,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities.  References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

For Editorial Information:

David Winder
The Dow Chemical Company
979-238-3792