NEW CO-CHAIR NAMED TO OHIO STEEL COUNCIL

COLUMBUS, Ohio (October 22, 2001) –  James A. Cowan of North Star Steel Ohio has been named co-chairman of the Ohio Steel Council, a public-private partnership of education, government and industry leaders. Cowan will serve alongside co-chairman Bruce E. Johnson, director of the Ohio Department of Development.

Cowan, who was appointed to the Council in 2000, is general manager of North Star Steel's Tubular Division. He holds a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering from Michigan Tech University. Cowan resides in Poland, Ohio, with his wife and two children.North Star Steel is a long-standing member company of the Ohio Steel Council.

Appointed by the governor, the Ohio Steel Council is a public-private partnership designed to strengthen ties among the steel industry, the state of Ohio and its citizens. The Council's member organizations are AK Steel Corp., LTV Steel Company, North Star Steel, Ohio Department of Development, Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio Senate, The Ohio State University, Pittsburgh Logistics Systems, Inc., PRO-TEC Coating Company, Republic Technologies International, The Timken Company, United Steelworkers of America, USS Lorain Pipe Mills, WCI Steel, Inc., Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. and Youngstown State University.