For Immediate Release

BETHLEHEM, Pa., February 12, 2002 - The retirement, effective February 28, 2002, of Stephen G. Donches, vice president, Public Affairs, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, was announced today by Robert S. Miller, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer.

In announcing Mr. Donches' retirement, Mr. Miller said, "Steve Donches has been on the front lines for Bethlehem in his public affairs' role for almost 30 years, and has brought significant recognition to our Corporation in government and public affairs and, in recent years, to our brownfield development at Bethlehem Works and Bethlehem Commerce Center. His commitment, expertise and full devotion to Bethlehem will be sorely missed."

Simultaneously, Mr. Donches announced that he has accepted an offer to become the president and chief executive officer of the National Museum of Industrial History, which is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. "I have thoroughly enjoyed representing Bethlehem Steel before our many publics because it has been a leader in the steel industry and a great company for almost 100 years. Now, I am anxious to devote myself to the full development of the National Museum of Industrial History. Our nation and our community have such a rich industrial heritage, and I am honored and thrilled to play a role in helping to see that story told here in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at the historic site of the Bethlehem Plant."

A native of Bethlehem, Mr. Donches received his bachelor of science degree in accounting from St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia, in 1967, and joined Bethlehem as a member of that year's Loop Course management training program. His initial assignment was in the tax division of the accounting department.

Mr. Donches took a military leave of absence and served with the U. S. Army from 1968 to 1970 in California and Germany. He returned to the tax division until 1973, when he transferred to the public affairs department. A series of promotions led to his being named manager of state government affairs in 1982 and three years later he assumed responsibility for the corporation's corporate support programs and community relations.

In 1987, he was appointed vice president, state and community affairs, and was elected vice president, public affairs, effective November 1, 1992, where he has had responsibility for all government affairs at the federal, state and local levels, corporate communications, including media relations, video communication and the Schwab Corporate Library, community affairs and corporate support programs, and, in recent years, the development of the Bethlehem Works and Bethlehem Commerce Center, Bethlehem Steel's nationally recognized brownfield development. Mr. Donches is also president of the Bethlehem Steel Foundation and chairman of the company's political action committee, the Bethlehem Steel Good Government Committee.

He was a graduate of the first class of the Public Affairs Council's Public Affairs Institute, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University's Graduate School of Business Administration in 1992.

Mr. Donches is a member of the American Iron and Steel Institute and has served as a Steel Fellow of the Institute. He is a trustee of Moravian College and also serves on the boards of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Pennsylvanians for Effective Government, the Lehigh Valley Partnership, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Bethlehem Area Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the International Iron and Steel Institute's Public Relations Committee and is past chairman of its PR/Image Committee.

He also is a member of the board of directors of the National Museum of Industrial History, which is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Donches is a former director of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Boys Club of Bethlehem and of Historic Bethlehem, Inc., and has served on the Ben Franklin Advisory Board at Lehigh University. He completed twenty years as a member of the Bethlehem Water Authority, having served as its chairman.

Mr. Donches and his wife, Sally, will remain in the Bethlehem area. They are the parents of two children, Stephen and Cara, and have one grandchild.

For More Information:
Robert W. Bilheimer - (610) 694-3711
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Public Affairs Department

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