GRACO INC
DEF 14A, 1994-03-25
PUMPS & PUMPING EQUIPMENT
Previous: GLATFELTER P H CO, 10-K, 1994-03-25
Next: GREAT LAKES CHEMICAL CORP, DEF 14A, 1994-03-25



                           SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                   PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
                    OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                       
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [  ]

Check the appropriate box:

      Preliminary Proxy Statement
 X    Definitive Proxy Statement
      Definitive Additional Materials
      Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
        240.14a-12

                                  GRACO INC.
               (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
                                       
                                  GRACO INC.
                  (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 X    $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1) or 14a-6(j)(2).
      $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
      14a-6(i)(3).
      Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

      1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
      
      2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
      
      3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:*
      
      4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
      
      *Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state
       how it was determined.

      Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
      Rule O-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
      paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement
      number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

      1) Amount Previously Paid:
      
      2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
      
      3) Filing Party:
      
      4) Date Filed:
                                       
                                       

<PAGE>

                                  GRACO INC.
                          4050 Olson Memorial Highway
                      Golden Valley, Minnesota 55422-5332
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                   NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                       
Dear Shareholder:

Please  join  us  on  Tuesday, May 3, 1994, at 3:30 p.m.  for  Graco's  Annual
Meeting  of  Shareholders  at the Lutheran Brotherhood  Building,  625  Fourth
Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota in the first floor auditorium.

At this meeting, shareholders will consider the following matters:

    1.  Election of four directors to serve for three-year terms.

    2.  Approval of the Graco Inc. Nonemployee Director Stock Plan.

    3.  Ratification of the selection of independent auditors for the current
        year.

    4.  Transaction  of such other business as may properly come  before  the
        meeting.

Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 1994 are entitled
to vote at this meeting or any adjournment thereof.

We  encourage  you  to join us and participate in this meeting.   If  you  are
unable  to  do  so, a Proxy Card is enclosed for your use.   When  marked  and
returned, it will represent an authorization to vote your shares in accordance
with your instructions.

If  you do not return the Proxy Card and do not vote your shares in person  at
the  meeting,  you  will  lose your right to vote  on  matters  which  are  of
importance to you as a shareholder.  Accordingly, if you do not plan to attend
the meeting, please execute and return the enclosed Proxy Card promptly.  This
will  not  prevent you from voting in person should you decide to  attend  the
meeting.


Sincerely,


\David A. Koch                            \Robert M. Mattison
David A. Koch                             Robert M. Mattison
Chairman And                              Secretary
Chief Executive Officer


March 25, 1994
Golden Valley, Minnesota




                            YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
We urge you to mark, date and sign the enclosed Proxy Card and return it in
the accompanying envelope as soon as possible.  If you attend the meeting, you
may still revoke your proxy and vote in person if you wish.

<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                       
                                       
                                                                   Page
         Election of Directors                                        1
           Nominees and Other Directors                               1
           Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors;
              Nomination of Directors                                 4
           Executive Compensation                                     4
              Report of the Management Organization and Compensation
              Committee                                               4
           Comparative Stock Performance Graph                        6
           Summary Compensation Table                                 7
           Option/SAR Grants Table (Last Fiscal Year)                 8
           Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises In Last Fiscal Year and
              Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values                       9
           Walter E. Weyler Separation Agreement                      9
           Robert F. Hasse Retirement Agreement                      10
           Retirement Arrangements                                   10
           Directors' Fees                                           11
         Beneficial Ownership of Shares                              11
           Principal Shareholders                                    12
           Section 16 Compliance                                     12
         The Graco Inc. Nonemployee Director Stock Plan              12
         Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditors         13
         Other Matters                                               13
         Shareholder Proposals                                       13
         Appendix A- Text of Nonemployee Director Stock Plan         14



A  copy  of  the  1993  Graco Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K,  including  the
Financial  Statements and the Financial Statement Schedules, can  be  obtained
free of charge by calling (612) 623-6672 or writing:
                                   Treasurer
                                  Graco Inc.
                                 P.O. Box 1441
                            Minneapolis, Minnesota
                                  55440-1441
                                       

<PAGE>
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
                                  GRACO INC.
                          4050 Olson Memorial Highway
                     Golden Valley, Minnesota  55422-5332
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                      FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD MAY 3, 1994
                                       
                                       
   Your proxy, represented by the accompanying Proxy Card, is solicited by the
Board of Directors of Graco Inc. in connection with the Annual Meeting of  the
Shareholders of the Company to be held on May 3, 1994, and any adjournments of
the meeting.

    The costs of the solicitation, including the cost of preparing and mailing
the  Notice of Meeting and this Proxy Statement, will be paid by the  Company.
Solicitation  will  be  primarily  by mailing  this  Proxy  Statement  to  all
shareholders  entitled to vote at the meeting.  Proxies may  be  solicited  by
officers  of  the Company personally, but at no compensation  in  addition  to
their  regular  compensation as officers.  The Company may reimburse  brokers,
banks and others holding shares in their names for third parties for the  cost
of  forwarding  proxy material to, and obtaining proxies from, third  parties.
The  Proxy  Statement  and accompanying Proxy Card will  be  first  mailed  to
shareholders on or about March 25, 1994.

    Proxies may be revoked at any time prior to being voted by giving  written
notice  of revocation to the Secretary of the Company.  All properly  executed
proxies  received by management will be voted in the manner set forth in  this
Proxy Statement or as otherwise specified by the shareholder giving the proxy.

    Shares voted as abstentions on any matter (or a "withhold vote for" as  to
directors) will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to vote for
purposes  of  determining  the presence of a quorum  at  the  meeting  and  as
unvoted,  although present and entitled to vote, for purposes  of  determining
the  approval of each matter as to which the shareholder has abstained.  If  a
broker  submits  a  proxy  which  indicates that  the  broker  does  not  have
discretionary  authority as to certain shares to vote on one or more  matters,
those  shares will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to  vote
for  purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at the meeting, but will
not  be  considered  as  present and entitled to vote  with  respect  to  such
matters.

    Only shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 10, 1994,
may  vote  at the meeting or at any adjournment.  As of that date, there  were
issued and outstanding 11,626,648 common shares of the Company, the only class
of  securities  of  the Company entitled to vote at the meeting.   Each  share
registered  to  a  shareholder of record is entitled to one vote.   Cumulative
voting is not permitted.

(Proposal 1)      ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

NOMINEES AND OTHER DIRECTORS

    The Board of Directors of the Company consists of ten members, two of whom
are  executive  officers of the Company.  Members of the  Board  of  Directors
serve  for  three-year  terms,  with either one-third  or  two-fifths  of  the
directors being elected each year.  Vacancies that occur during a term may  be
filled  by a majority vote of the directors then in office though less than  a
quorum  and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring  at  the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
                                       
                                       
                                       1
<PAGE>

    Effective  August 8, 1993, Ronald N. Hoge resigned as a  director  of  the
Company.

    At  the forthcoming Annual Meeting, four persons are to be elected to  the
Company's  Board  of  Directors, all of whom are currently  directors  of  the
Company.  The Board has nominated George Aristides, Ronald O. Baukol,  Joe  R.
Lee  and  Gerard  C.  Planchon for three-year terms  expiring  in  1997.   The
nominees Ronald O. Baukol and Gerard C. Planchon have previously been  elected
as directors of the Company by the shareholders.

    Unless otherwise instructed not to vote for the election of directors, the
proxies  will  vote to elect the nominees.  A director candidate must  receive
the  vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in order  to
be elected.

    The  following  information, as of March 10, 1994,  is  given  as  to  the
nominees  for election and as to the six directors whose terms of office  will
continue  after  the  Annual Meeting.  Except as  noted  below,  each  of  the
nominees  and  directors  has  held the same  position  or  another  executive
position with the same employer for the past five years.


                        Nominees  for  election  at  this  meeting  to   terms
                        expiring in 1997:
                        
                        
                        
                        George Aristides
                        
                        Mr.  Aristides,  58,  President and  Chief  Operating
                        Officer, Graco Inc., since June 24, 1993.  Formerly
                        Executive Vice President since  March  1993 and Vice
                        President, Manufacturing  Operations  and Controller
[PHOTO]                 since 1985.  Director of Graco since June 1993.






                        Ronald O. Baukol
                        
                        Mr. Baukol, 56, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Canada
                        and Latin America, 3M, a diversified manufacturer of
                        industrial, commercial, consumer and health care
[PHOTO]                 products.  Director of Graco since May 1989.







                        Joe R. Lee
                        
                        Mr. Lee, 53, Vice Chairman, General Mills, Inc., a
                        diversified marketer of packaged food products and
                        operator of restaurants.  Director of Graco since
[PHOTO]                 February 1994.






                        Gerard C. Planchon
                        
                        Mr. Planchon, 62, Retired.  Prior to June 1992,
                        Executive Vice President, Global Business, Medtronic,
                        Inc., a developer and manufacturer of biomedical
[PHOTO]                 devices.  Director of Graco since May 1991.
                                       
                                       
                                       2
<PAGE>

                        Directors whose terms continue until 1995:
                        
                        
                        John W. Lacey
                        
                        Mr. Lacey, 63, Management Consultant.  Prior to 1987,
                        Executive Vice President, Control Data Corporation, a
                        computer manufacturer and provider of data processing
                        services.  Director of Graco since 1973 and Director
[PHOTO]                 of Instron Corporation.





                        Dale R. Olseth
                        
                        Mr. Olseth, 63, President and Chief Executive Officer
                        of BSI Corporation, a biotechnical company
                        specializing in the modification of material surfaces.
                        Director of Graco since 1972 and Director of The Toro
[PHOTO]                 Company.





                        Curtis B. Thompson
                        
                        Mr. Thompson, 64, Retired. Prior to March 1990, Senior
                        Vice President, Industrial Automation and Control,
                        Honeywell Inc., a manufacturer of control systems.
[PHOTO]                 Director of Graco since 1981.

                        Directors whose terms continue until 1996:
                        
                        
                        
                        David A. Koch
                        
                        Mr. Koch, 63, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
                        Graco Inc., has been a director since 1962.  Director
[PHOTO]                 of The NWNL Companies, Inc.




                        Richard D. McFarland
                        
                        Mr. McFarland, 64, Chairman, Inter-Regional Financial
                        Group, Inc., a diversified financial services company.
                        Dain Bosworth Incorporated, a subsidiary of Inter-
                        Regional Financial Group, Inc., has performed
                        investment banking services for Graco in the past and
                        this relationship is expected to continue.  Director
[PHOTO]                 of Graco since 1969.





                        Lee R. Mitau
                        
                        Mr. Mitau, 45, Attorney, Partner of Dorsey & Whitney.
                        Dorsey & Whitney has in the past provided, and
                        continues to provide, legal services to Graco.
[PHOTO]                 Director of Graco since May 1990.

                                       
                                       3
<PAGE>

MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS; NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS

    The  Company  has  an  Audit  Committee,  a  Management  Organization  and
Compensation  Committee,  a  Quality and Technology  Committee,  and  a  Board
Structure and Policy Committee.

    The  Audit  Committee  was created by the Board  of  Directors  to  review
accounting  and  control procedures of the Company.  The  Committee  currently
consists  of four independent, nonemployee members of the Board of  Directors,
who  are  Messrs. Lacey, Mitau, Olseth, and Planchon.  Three meetings of  this
Committee were held during 1993.

    The  Management Organization and Compensation Committee currently consists
of  four  independent nonemployee members of the Board of Directors,  who  are
Messrs.  Baukol, Lacey, McFarland and Thompson.  This Committee  reviews   the
compensation  of  the  executive  officers,  makes  recommendations  on   such
compensation  to  the Board of Directors, and administers the Company's  stock
option and incentive plans.  Two meetings of this Committee were held in 1993.

    The  Quality and Technology Committee reviews and evaluates the  Company's
technology and quality programs, policies, and practices.  Current members  of
this  Committee  are Messrs. Aristides, Baukol, Koch, Planchon  and  Thompson.
Two meetings of this Committee were held in 1993.

    The  Board  Structure and Policy Committee evaluates policies  related  to
Board membership and procedure, reviews and makes recommendations on fees  and
benefits  for directors, and recommends nominees for the position of  director
to  the  Board  of Directors.  Current members of this Committee  are  Messrs.
Aristides, Koch, Mitau, and Olseth.  Two meetings of this Committee were  held
in  1993.  The  Committee  will  consider  shareholders'  recommendations  for
nomination  of directors.   Any recommendations should be made in writing  and
addressed  to  the Committee in care of the Secretary of the  Company  at  the
Company's corporate headquarters.

   In addition, shareholders may nominate candidates for election to the Board
of Directors.   The By-laws provide that timely notice must be received by the
Secretary of the Company at the Company's corporate headquarters not less than
60  days  prior  to  the  date  of  the Annual Meeting  of  Shareholders.  The
nominations must set forth (i) the name, age, business address and residential
address and the principal occupation or employment of each nominee proposed in
such notice, (ii) the name and address of the shareholder giving the notice as
it  appears  in the Company's stock register, (iii) the number  of  shares  of
capital stock of the Company which are beneficially owned by each such nominee
and  by such shareholder and (iv) such other information concerning each  such
nominee  as would be required, under the rules of the Securities and  Exchange
Commission, in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election  of  such
nominee.  Such notice must also include a signed consent of each such  nominee
to serve as a director of the Company, if elected.

    During  1993,  the  Board of Directors met six times.  Attendance  of  the
Company's  directors at all Board and Committee meetings during 1993  averaged
97  percent.  During 1993, each director attended at least 75 percent  of  the
aggregate of the number of meetings of the Board and of all committees of  the
Board on which he served.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Report of the Management Organization and Compensation Committee

Overview

    The  Management Organization and Compensation Committee of  the  Board  of
Directors (hereafter called "the Committee") is responsible for developing the
Company's   philosophy  on  executive  compensation.   Consistent  with   this
philosophy,  the  Committee  develops  compensation  programs  for  the  Chief
Executive  Officer and each of the other executive officers  of  the  Company.
Compensation programs which provide for grants or awards of Company stock  are
approved by the Board of Directors and the shareholders of the Company.  On an
annual  basis,  the Committee determines the compensation to be  paid  to  the
Chief  Executive Officer and other executive officers, based on the provisions
of  the  compensation  plans.  The Committee is composed of  four  independent
nonemployee directors.
                                       
                                       
                                       4
<PAGE>

Executive Compensation Philosophy and Program

    It is the Company's philosophy to set its executive compensation structure
at  levels which are competitive with those of durable goods manufacturers  of
comparable  size.   These  levels are determined by consulting  a  variety  of
independent   third   party   executive   compensation   surveys.    Executive
compensation will then be delivered through:

o  base salaries which recognize the experience and performance of individual
   executives;

o  aggressive, performance-driven incentives which:
   - enhance shareholder value,
   - balance annual and long term corporate objectives, and
   - provide meaningful amounts of company stock; and

o  competitive benefits.

   The specific components of the executive compensation program are described
below:

   Base salary ranges are established by the Committee, using salary and trend
data   for   the   fiftieth  percentile  of  comparably-sized  durable   goods
manufacturers, as published in a variety of independent third party  executive
compensation  surveys.   The actual base salary of each  officer,  within  the
range,  is  determined  by  the executive's performance,  which  is  evaluated
annually  by  the Chief Executive Officer and the President and  reviewed  and
approved  by  the  Committee.   Both  financial  and  management  factors  are
considered in the evaluation.

    The  Annual Bonus Plan, available in 1993 to 12 executive officers and  57
other  management employees, is structured to encourage growth in earnings  by
the Company.  The plan determines individual awards for executive officers  by
measuring  Company  performance  compared to  corporate  net  earnings  growth
targets  established by the Committee in the first quarter of each year.   Net
earnings  targets are always set to exceed prior year earnings  results.   The
Annual  Bonus Plan provides a target opportunity of 40 percent of pay for  the
Chief Executive Officer, 35 percent of pay for the President and 30 percent of
pay for each Vice President.  Maximum awards are double the target percentages
of pay.  Due principally to difficult economic conditions in Japan and Europe,
earnings  growth performance targets were not attained in 1993.  As a  result,
no  awards  were made to executive officers under the 1993 Annual Bonus  Plan.
Under  the Chairman's Award Program, the Chief Executive Officer is also  able
to  grant  a total of $100,000 in individual discretionary awards to recognize
significant contributions by selected executive officers and other  management
employees.

    The  Executive Long Term Incentive Program, available only to officers  of
the  Company, was a three-year program, running from fiscal year 1991  through
1993.   The  program  measured return on assets and net sales  growth  against
targets  established by the Committee in the first quarter  of  1991.   Awards
under the program were in restricted stock, with a possible cash payment.  The
1991 restricted stock awards vested in equal annual installments over a period
of  six  years, except that the unvested balance had the potential to vest  at
the  end of three years, if return on assets and net sales growth targets were
achieved.   Return on assets and net sales growth targets for  1991-1993  were
not  met,  due principally to poor performance by two subsidiaries which  have
now  been divested, and to difficult economic conditions in Japan and  Europe.
As  a  result, the balance of the 1991 restricted stock grant did not vest  at
the  end of 1993, and the remaining restricted shares will vest over the  next
three years.  No cash payment was made under the program.

    Following  the conclusion of the 1991-1993 Executive Long Term   Incentive
Program, the Committee has determined that long-term programs for future years
should  align interests of executive officers more closely with those  of  all
Graco  shareholders,  by  providing  both  the  risks  and  rewards  of  stock
ownership.   As  a result, the new long term incentive program  for  1994  and
following  years  will  consist of stock options,  granted  to  all  executive
officers  on a regular basis.  The value of the remaining shares to be  vested
under the 1991-1993 program will be considered in determining 1994-1996 awards
under  the  new program. Details of the stock option program for all executive
officers  will be included in the Committee's report for 1994.  Stock  options
were  granted  to  selected officers in 1993, in an amount determined  by  the
Chief Executive Officer and the Committee, to recognize significant changes in
their responsibilities within the Company.

    Executive  officers  are eligible to participate in the  employee  benefit
programs available to all Graco employees.
                                       
                                       
                                       5
<PAGE>

Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer

    On  an  annual  basis,  the  Committee is responsible  for  reviewing  the
individual  performance of the Chief Executive Officer,  David  A.  Koch,  and
determining appropriate adjustments in base pay and award opportunities  under
the Annual Bonus Plan and Executive Long Term Incentive Program.

    In reviewing Mr. Koch's performance, the Committee considered a number  of
positive  changes  within  the Company during the  past  year,  including  (a)
appointment  of  a  new  President and changes in  roles  of  other  executive
officers, (b) completion of the Graco 2000 strategic plan, (c) increased focus
on  growing  the Company's core businesses on a worldwide basis,  (d)  renewed
commitment   to   product   development,   (e)   establishment   of   cellular
manufacturing,  (f)  the Company's ongoing business process  improvements  and
registration  under  ISO 9000, and (g) the recent dividend actions  benefiting
shareholders.   It is the Committee's belief that these changes  position  the
Company  to  take  advantage of continued resurgence in domestic  markets  and
ongoing  growth of foreign markets.  The Committee and the Board of  Directors
are supportive of these changes and Mr. Koch's overall strategic direction and
management of the business.

     Given  the  current  worldwide  economic  factors  facing  durable  goods
manufacturers, the Committee believes that the Company's earnings  performance
over  the  past several years has been reasonable.  Graco's stock  performance
significantly exceeded the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Factory Index during  the
past  year.   (See Five Year Comparative Stock Performance Graph below.)   The
Committee  believes  that the stock market has recognized Graco's  ability  to
generate  cash  and  has  an expectation that the Company's  performance  will
improve as the world's economies recover.

    Mr.  Koch's salary remained at $315,000 for each year from 1990-1993.   In
recognition  of the factors noted above and his performance during  the  1990-
1993  period,  the  Committee  increased his  salary  to  $350,000  per  year,
effective January 1, 1994.

                                      The Members of the Committee

                           Mr. Ronald O. Baukol        Mr. John W. Lacey
                           Mr. Richard D. McFarland    Mr. Curtis B. Thompson

Comparative Stock Performance Graph

    The  graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return  on  the
common stock of the Company for the last five fiscal years with the cumulative
total return of the S&P 500 Index and of the Dow Jones Factory Equipment Index
over  the same period (assuming the value of investment in Graco common  stock
and  each  index  was  100  on  December 30,  1988,  and  all  dividends  were
reinvested).

[GRAPH-Table Below Lists Data Points Included in Graph]

<TABLE>
                     Five Year Cumulative Total Shareholder Returns

<CAPTION>
                                                                   Dow Jones
Year                 Graco Inc.              S&P 500       Factory Equipment
<C>                         <C>                  <C>                     <C>

1988                        100                  100                     100
1989                         96                  132                     110
1990                        126                  127                      95
1991                        145                  162                     113
1992                        139                  180                     123
1993                        219                  195                     148

                     Fiscal Year Ended Last Friday in December
</TABLE>
                                       
                                       6
<PAGE>

Summary Compensation Table

   The following table shows both annual and long-term compensation awarded to
or  earned  by  the  Chief  Executive Officer and  by  the  four  most  highly
compensated  executive officers of the Company whose total annual  salary  and
bonus for 1993 exceeded $100,000.  In addition, the table includes information
on  Walter  E. Weyler and Robert F. Hasse, two former executive officers,  who
left  the Company during 1993, but whose total annual salary and bonus  during
1993  exceeded $100,000 and therefore would have placed them in the  group  of
the four most highly compensated executive officers.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  Long Term Compensation
                                Annual Compensation                             Awards             Payouts
             (a)       (b)      (c)            (d)              (e)         (f)                (g)         (h)          (i)
                                                              Other  Restricted         Securities                All Other
                                                             Annual       Stock         Underlying        LTIP      Compen-
Name and                     Salary          Bonus           Compen-   Award(s)           Options/     Payouts       sation
Principal Position    Year      ($)<F1><F2>    ($)<F1><F3> sation($)        ($)<F4><F5>   SARs (#)<F5>     ($)<F4>      ($)<F6>
<S>    <C>            <C>  <C>             <C>               <C>       <C>                  <C>              <C>   <C>

David A. Koch         1993 $323,866              0                 0          0                  0           0       $3,876
Chairman and Chief    1992  323,866        $91,539                 0          0                  0           0        2,195
Executive Officer     1991  323,866              0                 0   $782,615                  0           0        1,191

George Aristides      1993  251,800         25,000                 0          0             45,000           0        1,928
President and Chief   1992  226,800         69,039                 0          0                  0           0        1,780
Operating Officer     1991  209,808         10,000                 0    323,015                  0           0          989

Roger L. King         1993  165,696         15,000                 0          0             22,500           0        3,796
Sr. Vice Presiden     1992  158,696         44,436                 0          0                  0           0        1,780
and General Manager   1991  150,696         10,000                 0    232,916                  0           0        2,448
International
Operations

Barry A. Calhoon      1993  171,800              0           $33,010<F7>      0                  0           0        3,127
Sr. Vice President    1992  165,873         34,872                 0          0                  0           0        2,136
and General Manager,  1991  149,988              0                 0    200,327                  0           0        1,771
Industrial Automotive
Equipment Division

Roy Richardson        1993  157,808         15,000                 0          0                  0           0        2,484
Vice President        1992  152,808         42,693                 0          0                  0           0        1,780
Quality Management    1991  147,556              0                 0    225,248                  0           0          989
Systems

Walter E. Weyler<F8>  1993  266,238              0                 0          0                  0           0        4,926
Former President and  1992  256,152         64,840                 0          0                  0           0        4,689
Chief Operating       1991  256,152        120,250                 0    554,333                  0           0        2,662
Officer

Robert F. Hasse       1993  228,416         25,000                 0     56,750<F9>              0           0      307,118
Retired Executive     1992  308,577<F9>          0<F9>             0          0                  0           0        4,460
Vice President        1991  198,500         30,000                 0          0<F9>              0           0          989
<FN>

<F1>
(1) Deferred compensation is included in Salary and Bonus in the year earned.

<F2>
(2)  In  addition  to  base  salary,  the  reported  figure  includes  amounts
attributable to (a) the imputed value of the group term life insurance benefit
for  each  of  the named executive officers, (b) one week of pay  in  lieu  of
vacation time for Mr. Koch due to his long tenure with the Company, a  benefit
available  to  all Graco employees, (c) foreign service premium  paid  to  Mr.
Calhoon  during  his  European  assignment  in  1990  (d)  reimbursements  for
relocation  expenses  paid to Mr. Calhoon in 1992,  and  (e)  the  balance  of
vacation  due Mr. Hasse upon his August 31, 1993 retirement.  See  Footnote  6
and Retirement Agreement below.

<F3>
(3) Bonus includes any awards under the Annual Bonus Plan and Chairman's Award
Program  described  in the Management Organization and Compensation  Committee
Report;  a  special bonus to Mr. Weyler of $120,250 in 1991; a  $30,000  bonus
paid to Mr. Hasse in 1991; and special bonuses in 1993 of $25,000 each to  Mr.
Aristides  and  Mr.  Hasse and $15,000 to Mr. King, in connection  with  their
changes in responsibility within the Company.

                                       
                                       7
<PAGE>

<F4>
(4)  Under the Graco Executive Long Term Incentive Program, participants  were
eligible to receive restricted stock awards and performance-based cash payouts
as described in the Management Organization and Compensation Committee Report.
The restricted stock award in 1991 vested over six years (one-sixth per year),
except that the unvested balance of the award had the potential to vest at the
end  of  three  years if certain financial goals were met.  Since  performance
targets  for 1991-1993 were not met, the balance of the 1991 restricted  stock
grant  did not vest at the end of 1993 and no cash awards were made under  the
program.  The remaining restricted shares will vest over the next three years.
The  amount reported in the table represents the market value on the  date  of
grant.   As of December 31, 1993, the market value and number of the  unvested
restricted  share  holdings  were: Mr. Koch,  $712,805  (29,394  shares);  Mr.
Aristides,  $294,201 (12,132 shares); Mr. King, $212,139 (8,748  shares);  Mr.
Calhoon, $182,457 (7,524 shares); and Mr. Richardson, $205,155 (8,460 shares).

Quarterly  dividends are paid on the restricted shares.   The  $2.70  one-time
special dividend payable on March 21, 1994 to shareholders of record on  March
7, 1994, will be held in custody by the Company with a portion of the dividend
released to each executive as, and if, the corresponding shares vest over  the
next three years.  Interest will be credited on the dividends at 4 percent per
year,  which  is the treasury bill rate for the average length of time  before
shares  and  dividends  are  released to the  executives.   Interest  will  be
calculated on a compound basis.

<F5>
(5)  On  December  17, 1993, the Board of Directors approved  a  three-for-two
stock  split,  effected in the form of a stock dividend, payable  February  2,
1994,  to shareholders of record on January 5, 1994.  The number of restricted
shares  and  options,  as well as the exercise price  for  options,  has  been
restated in this table and all subsequent tables to reflect the split.

<F6>
(6)  The  compensation reported includes the Company contributions  under  the
Employee  Investment  Plan  (excluding employee contributions),  plus  Company
contributions under the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.  For 1993, the  Company
contributions  accrued  under the Employee Investment Plan  were  as  follows:
$3,447  for Mr. Koch; $4,497 for Mr. Weyler; $4,273 for Mr. Hasse; $1,499  for
Mr. Aristides; $3,367 for Mr. King; $2,698 for Mr. Calhoon; and $2,055 for Mr.
Richardson.  In 1993, Company contributions under the Employee Stock Ownership
Plan had a fair market value of $429 for each eligible executive officer.

The  compensation  reported for Mr. Hasse also includes payments  made  during
1993  pursuant  to  his Retirement Agreement, including a lump  sum  severance
payment  of  $294,614,  retirement supplement payments  totaling  $7,564,  and
retiree medical premium payments of $238.

<F7>
(7) This figure represents a tax equalization payment, attributable to a prior
international assignment of Mr. Calhoon.

<F8>
(8)  Mr.  Weyler  resigned from his position as President and Chief  Operating
Officer  and from the Board of Directors on January 15, 1993.  See  discussion
of Mr. Weyler's Separation Agreement below.

<F9>
(9) In February 1992, at the request of Mr. Hasse, the Company entered into an
agreement with him under which the restricted shares awarded to him  in  1991,
with  a value of $298,094, were canceled and he withdrew from the Annual Bonus
Plan,  in  exchange  for  an alternative cash compensation  arrangement.   The
salary  and bonus for Mr. Hasse in 1992 reflect this revised arrangement.   In
March  1993,  Mr. Hasse, in connection with a change in responsibility,  again
became a participant in the Annual Bonus Plan and was given a restricted stock
grant  of  3,000 shares.  Mr. Hasse retired from the Company effective  August
31,  1993,  having served as an executive officer through June 24, 1993.   See
discussion of Mr. Hasse's Retirement Agreement below.
</TABLE>

Option/SAR Grants Table (Last Fiscal Year)

    The  following table shows the stock options granted to Mr. Aristides  and
Mr. King during 1993, their exercise price and their grant date present value.
No  other  executive officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table received
option grants during 1993.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        Individual Grants                     Grant Date Value<F3>
(a)                        (b)                (c)           (d)         (e)                (f)
                     Number of         % of Total
                    Securities       Options/SARs      Exercise                          Grant
                    Underlying         Granted to       or Base                           Date
                  Options/SARs       Employees in         Price  Expiration            Present
Name               Granted (#)        Fiscal Year        ($/Sh)        Date          Value ($)
<S>                     <C>                 <C>          <C>       <C>               <C>

George Aristides        15,000<F1>          18.9%        $17.00    02/24/03          $  75,951
                        30,000<F2>          37.7%        $18.92    05/03/03            181,395

Roger L. King            7,500<F1>           9.4%        $17.00    02/24/03             37,976
                        15,000<F2>          18.9%        $18.92    05/03/03             90,698


                                       8
<PAGE>
<FN>

<F1>
(1)   Incentive stock options with accompanying stock appreciation rights were
granted  to  Mr. Aristides and Mr. King on February 25, 1993, in  the  amounts
shown on the table.  The options have a ten-year duration and may be exercised
as  follows:  one-third of shares immediately, one-third after one year,  one-
third after two years.

<F2>
(2)   Non-incentive stock options with accompanying stock appreciation  rights
were  granted  to Mr. Aristides and Mr. King on May 4, 1993,  in  the  amounts
shown on the table.  The options have a ten-year duration and may be exercised
as  follows:  one-third of shares immediately, one-third after one year,  one-
third after two years.

<F3>
(3)   The  Black-Scholes option pricing model has been used to  determine  the
present  value of the grants.  Annual volatility was calculated using  monthly
returns for 36 months prior to the grant date, the interest rate was set using
U.S.  Treasury securities of similar duration to the option period as  of  the
grant date, and dividend yield was established as the yield on the grant date.
A  10  percent  discount for nontransferability and a 3  percent  discount  to
reflect  possibility of forfeiture over a two-year period were  applied.   For
grants  expiring on February 24, 2003, the assumptions used in the model  were
annual volatility of 30 percent, interest rate of 6.1 percent, dividend  yield
of  3.0 percent, and time to exercise of 10 years.  For grants expiring on May
3,  2003,  the  assumptions used in the model were volatility of  30  percent,
interest  rate  of  5.9 percent, dividend yield of 2.5  percent  and  time  to
exercise of 10 years.
</TABLE>

Aggregated  Option/SAR  Exercises  In Last Fiscal  Year  And  Fiscal  Year-End
Option/SAR Values

    The following table shows options exercised during 1993 by Mr. Weyler,  as
well as the number and value of outstanding options at the end of the year for
Mr.  Aristides and Mr. King.  No other executive officer listed in the Summary
Compensation Table had outstanding options as of December 31, 1993.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(a)                        (b)         (c)                (d)               (e)
                                                    Number of
                                                   Securities
                                                   Underlying Value of Unexercised
                                                  Unexercised         In-the-Money
                                                 Options/SARs         Options/SARs
                                                at FY-End (#)        at FY-End ($)<F2>
                        Shares       Value
                   Acquired On    Realized       Exercisable/         Exercisable/
Name              Exercise (#)         ($)<F1>  Unexercisable        Unexercisable
<S>                     <C>        <C>          <C>               <C>

Walter E. Weyler        15,477     $67,230                0/0                   $0
George Aristides             0          $0      15,000/30,000     $89,550/$179,100
Roger L. King                0          $0       7,500/15,000      $44,775/$89,550
<FN>

<F1>
(1)  "Value  realized" is the difference between the closing price of  Graco's
common  stock  on  the  day of exercise and the option price  of  the  options
multiplied by the number of shares received.

<F2>
(2) "Value at fiscal year-end" is the difference between the closing price  of
Graco's common stock on December 31, 1993, and the option price multiplied  by
the number of shares subject to option.
</TABLE>

Walter E. Weyler Separation Agreement

    On  January 15, 1993, Mr. Weyler resigned from his positions as  President
and  Chief  Operating Officer and as a Director of the Company.  In connection
with his resignation, the Company entered into a Separation Agreement with Mr.
Weyler.   This agreement provided that Mr. Weyler would remain an employee  of
the Company, entitled to participate in employee benefit plans, until February
28,  1994,  or  until  he secured new employment, whichever  happened  sooner.
Following  termination of his employment, Mr. Weyler will receive his  current
base  salary of $22,083 per month through February 28, 1995, payable in a lump
sum equivalent.

    In  early 1993, Mr. Weyler received payments due for 1992 under the Annual
Bonus Plan and one-sixth of the restricted shares (5,205) awarded to him under
the  Executive  Long  Term  Incentive  Program  in  1991.   He  did  not
participate  in  the 1993 Annual Bonus Plan and the balance of his  restricted
shares (20,820) reverted to the Company.


                                       9
<PAGE>

    Under  the  terms  of the Separation Agreement, Mr. Weyler  also  received
outplacement  consulting  services  and payment  of  $30,000  in  unreimbursed
expenses  incurred  in his search for new employment.  He  will  also  receive
payment  for  unreimbursed  household moving expenses  in  the  event  of  his
relocation within the United States.  This Separation Agreement superseded all
prior agreements between Mr. Weyler and the Company.

Robert F. Hasse Retirement Agreement

   Mr. Hasse retired from the Company effective August 31, 1993, having served
as  an  executive officer through June 24, 1993.  The Company entered  into  a
Retirement Agreement with Mr. Hasse.  In exchange for Mr. Hasse's agreement to
refrain  from competition with the Company until March 31, 1995,  the  Company
agreed  to  provide  a  lump sum payment of $294,614 upon  his  retirement,  a
supplemental  retirement benefit of $1,891 per month payable for  Mr.  Hasse's
lifetime, and retiree medical coverage without cost for a period of two years.

    Based  on  the  retirement provision of the Executive Long Term  Incentive
Program,   on March 1, 1994, Mr. Hasse received 2,000 of his 3,000  restricted
shares,  which  was a prorated portion of the shares based on  the  number  of
months  he  was employed by the Company in 1993.  The remaining  1,000  shares
reverted  to the Company.  Although Mr. Hasse was also entitled to a  prorated
award  under the provisions of the 1993 Annual Bonus Plan, he will receive  no
payment since threshold objectives of the Plan were not attained.

Retirement Arrangements

   The Company has an Employee Retirement Plan which provides pension benefits
for  eligible  regular,  full- and part-time employees.   Benefits  under  the
Retirement  Plan  consist  of a fixed benefit which  is  designed  to  provide
retirement  income at age 65 of 43.5 percent of average monthly  compensation,
less  18 percent of Social Security-covered compensation (calculated in a life
annuity  option)  for an employee with 30 or more years of  service.   Average
monthly compensation is defined as the average of the five consecutive highest
years' salary during the last ten years of service, including base salary  and
Annual  Bonus Plan awards, but excluding Executive Long Term Incentive Program
awards.   Benefits under the Employee Retirement Plan vest upon five years  of
benefit service.

    Federal  tax laws limit the annual benefits that may be paid from  a  tax-
qualified plan such as the Employee Retirement Plan.  The Company has  adopted
an unfunded plan to restore benefits to executive officer retirees impacted by
the benefit limits, so that they will receive, in aggregate, the benefits they
would have been entitled to receive under the Employee Retirement Plan had the
limits imposed by the tax laws not been in effect.

    The  following table shows the estimated aggregate annual benefits payable
under  the Employee Retirement Plan and the restoration plan for the specified
earnings  and  years of service.  The years of benefit service for  the  Chief
Executive   Officer  and  the  executive  officers  listed  in   the   Summary
Compensation Table are:  Mr. Koch, 37 yrs.; Mr. Weyler, 7 yrs.; Mr. Hasse,  32
yrs.; Mr. Aristides, 20 yrs.; Mr. King, 23 yrs.; Mr. Calhoon, 23 yrs.; and Mr.
Richardson, 11 yrs.  A  maximum of 30 years is counted in the pension  benefit
calculation.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Final Average 5 Years    10 Years     15 Years   20 Years    25 Years    30 Years
Compensation  Service     Service     Service     Service     Service     Service
<C>           <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>

$200,000      $14,095     $27,867   $  41,686   $  55,504   $  69,323   $  82,911
 300,000       21,466      42,488      63,557      84,625     105,694     126,411
 400,000       28,837      57,109      85,428     113,746     142,065     169,911
 500,000       36,208      71,730     107,298     142,867     178,435     213,411 
 600,000       43,579      86,351     129,169     171,988     214,806     256,911
</TABLE>

    From  time  to  time,  the Company has entered into deferred  compensation
agreements  with its executive officers, including those named in the  Summary
Compensation  Table.   The  agreements provide for the  payment  per  year  of
$10,000  deferred compensation  to each executive officer for ten years  after
retirement, or, in the event of death prior to the expiration of the ten  year
period, to a beneficiary.   These agreements also include provisions for  non-
competition  and  the  payment of $5,000 per annum in the  event  the  officer
becomes  disabled prior to age 65.  The $5,000 per annum payments  will  cease
upon the attainment of age 65.


                                      10
<PAGE>

Directors' Fees

    During  1993,  the Company paid each director, except directors  who  also
served as officers, an annual retainer of $12,000, plus a meeting fee of  $700
for  each  Board and $500 for each committee meeting attended.  Upon cessation
of  service, non-employee directors who have served for five full  years  will
receive  quarterly payments for five years at a rate equal to  the  director's
annual retainer in effect on the director's last day of service on the Board.

    Subject to shareholder approval of Proposal 2 in this Proxy Statement, the
Board  of Directors has adopted a Nonemployee Director Stock Plan.  This  plan
provides that a nonemployee director may elect to receive all or part  of  his
annual  retainer  in the form of shares of the Company's common  stock.   This
proposal  is more fully described on pages 12 and 13 of this Proxy  Statement,
and reference is made to the full text of this plan as set forth in Appendix A
of this Proxy Statement.

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

    The  following  information, furnished as of  March  10,  1994,  indicates
beneficial  ownership of the common shares of the Company  by  each  director,
each  nominee for election as director, the executive officers listed  in  the
Summary Compensation Table who are still executive officers on that date,  and
by  all  directors  and executive officers as a group.   Except  as  otherwise
indicated, the persons listed have sole voting and investment power.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Percent of
                               Amount and Nature of              Common Stock
Name of Beneficial Owner       Beneficial Ownership<F1><F2>       Outstanding*
<S>                                       <C>                           <C>

D. A. Koch<F2><F3><F4>                    3,222,689                     27.7%
G. Aristides<F2>                             89,317
R. O. Baukol<F4>                              1,500
B. A. Calhoon                                32,526
R. L. King                                   39,046
J.W. Lacey<F2>                                1,148
J. R. Lee                                     1,000
R. D. McFarland<F2><F4>                      39,768
L. R. Mitau<F4>                                 150
D. R. Olseth                                  4,500
G. C. Planchon                                  150
R. Richardson                                32,548
C. B. Thompson<F2>                            1,348

All directors and
  executive officers as a
  group (18 persons)<F3><F4><F5>          3,522,513                     30.3%

*  Less than one 1 percent, if no percentage is given.
<FN>

<F1>
(1)  All  share data has been restated for the three-for-two stock split  paid
February 2, 1994.

<F2>
(2)  Includes  the  following shares owned by spouses of directors  and  named
executive officers as to which the director or executive officer may be deemed
to  share  voting  and investment power:  Mr. Aristides,  20,932;   Mr.  Koch,
29,996; Mr. Lacey, 574 shares; Mr. McFarland, 10,264 shares; and Mr. Thompson,
843 shares.

<F3>
(3) Includes 3,019,397 shares held by the Clarissa L. Gray Trust, of which Mr.
Koch's  wife, Barbara Gray Koch, and their children are the beneficiaries  and
as  to  which  Mr.  Koch shares voting and investment power as  trustee.   See
"Principal Shareholders."

<F4>
(4)  Excludes  the  following  shares as  to  which  beneficial  ownership  is
disclaimed: (i) 301,237 shares owned by the Company's Employee Retirement Plan
and  119,821 unallocated shares held by the Company's Employee Stock Ownership
Plan, as to which Messrs. Koch, McFarland, Lee and Mitau and certain executive
officers  of the Company share voting and investment power as members  of  the
Company's  Investment  Committee;   (ii)  16,130  shares  held  by  the  Graco
Foundation  and (iii) 155,000  shares held by the Greycoach Foundation  as  to
which Mr. Koch shares voting and investment power as a director.

<F5>
(5)  If  the  shares  referred to in note 4 above, as to  which  one  or  more
directors and designated executive officers share voting power, were included,
the  number  of  shares  beneficially owned by  all  directors  and  executive
officers would be 4,114,701 shares, or 35.4 percent of the outstanding shares.
</TABLE>

    The  Company also has 14,835 preferred shares outstanding of  which  3,793
shares  (25.5 percent of the class) are held by Mrs. Koch and by a  trust  for
which Mr. Koch serves as trustee.


                                      11
<PAGE>

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

   The following table identifies each person or group known to the Company to
beneficially own more than 5 percent of the outstanding common shares  of  the
Company, the only class of security entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Beneficial           Percent
                                                         Ownership<F1>      of Class
<S>                                               <C>                          <C>

Trust under the Will of Clarissa L. Gray,
   and David A. Koch<F2>                          3,222,689 shares             27.7%

State of Wisconsin Investment Board<F3>             904,950 shares             7.94%

Mitchell Hutchins Institutional Investors Inc.<F4>  769,200 shares             6.74%
<FN>

<F1>
(1)   All share data has been restated for the three-for-two stock split paid
February 2, 1994.

<F2>
(2)   Includes 3,019,397 shares owned by the Clarissa L. Gray Trust.  Mr. Koch
is  one  of  the trustees of the Trust and the beneficiaries of the Trust  are
Mrs.  Koch and their children.  The other trustees are Maynard B. Hasselquist,
a  former  director  of  the  Company,  and  First  Bank,  N.A.,  Minneapolis,
Minnesota.   The  Trustees  have  sole voting  and  disposition  power.   Also
includes 203,292 shares owned by David A. Koch or Mrs. Koch.

<F3>
(3)   Ownership information is as of December 31, 1993.  A Schedule 13G  filed
by this independent agency of the State of Wisconsin indicates that the agency
has sole voting and disposition power.

<F4>
(4)   Ownership information is as of December 31, 1993.  A Schedule 13G  filed
by  Mitchell  Hutchins, an investment advisor, indicates that  the  investment
advisor has shared power to vote and direct the disposition of the shares.
</TABLE>

SECTION 16 COMPLIANCE

   The Company's executive officers, directors and 10 percent stockholders are
required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and regulations promulgated
thereunder  to  file initial reports of ownership and reports  of  changes  in
ownership  with  the  Securities and Exchange  Commission.   Copies  of  these
reports must also be provided to the Company.

    Based  upon  its  review  of the reports and any amendments  made  thereto
furnished  to  the Company, or written representations that  no  reports  were
required,  the Company believes that all reports were filed on a timely  basis
by  reporting persons during and with respect to 1993, except for  inadvertent
late filings by the following persons:  initial reports by James A. Graner and
John  A. Pepin; and a change of ownership report by George Aristides, who made
one  sale  of  stock; and a change of ownership report by Roy Richardson  with
respect  to  two  sales  of stock made in 1992, of which  he  was  deemed  the
beneficial owner.   All of the foregoing persons, with the exception  of  John
A. Pepin, are executive officers of the Company.

(Proposal  2)       PROPOSAL  TO APPROVE THE GRACO INC.  NONEMPLOYEE  DIRECTOR
STOCK PLAN

    At  the  Annual Meeting, the shareholders will consider and  vote  upon  a
proposal,  recommended by the Board of Directors, to approve  the  Graco  Inc.
Nonemployee  Director  Stock Plan.  The plan was  approved  by  the  Board  on
February 25, 1994.  Subject to shareholder approval of the plan, all  or  part
of  the  nonemployee directors' annual retainer may be paid  in  the  form  of
common  stock of the Company.  Commencing January 1, 1994, the Board  has  set
the  annual  retainer  at $15,000.  Each nonemployee  director  may  elect  to
receive 25 percent or more of the annual retainer in the form of common  stock
instead  of  cash.  The terms of the plan are summarized below, and  the  full
text of the plan is set forth in Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.

    The  Board  of  Directors  wishes to foster  increased  ownership  of  the
Company's  stock by its directors and to align their interest in the long-term
success  of  the  Company more closely with that of other  shareholders.   The
Board of Directors believes that this plan will serve these purposes.

SUMMARY OF PLAN

    In  furtherance of its policy of encouraging stock ownership by directors,
the  Plan   allows  directors to elect to take 25 percent  or  more  of  their
retainer in the form of shares of common stock of the Company in lieu of cash.
The value used to convert dollar amounts to shares for issuance under the plan
will  be  the  closing price of the Company's shares on  the  New  York  Stock
Exchange  (NYSE)  -  Composite Transactions on the last business  day  of  the
fiscal  quarter for which such shares are issued. The maximum number of shares
that will be available for issuance under the plan will be 100,000.


                                      12
<PAGE>

    Section  16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") governs  short-
swing  profits  by  corporate  insiders, including  directors,  and  generally
requires  that any profit obtained by such insider from a combination  of  any
purchase  and  any sale within six months of each other must be  paid  to  the
Company.   Under  rules  issued  by  the Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
("SEC"),  certain transactions pursuant to plans approved by shareholders  are
exempt  from  this  short-swing profit recovery.   It  is  intended  that  the
issuance of shares under the plan will be exempt transactions under these  SEC
rules.   Directors' fees have customarily been paid in arrears at the  end  of
each  fiscal  quarter.   However, in order to bring the  issuance  transaction
within the exemption, a director's election to receive shares of stock in lieu
of  cash will not become effective until the commencement of the first  fiscal
quarter which is at least six months from the date of the election.  The Board
retains  the  right  to  amend or terminate the plan, subject  to  shareholder
approval, if required by the SEC or the NYSE.  Furthermore, the plan  provides
that  it may not be amended more often than once every six months, other  than
to  conform  it  to changes in the Internal Revenue Code (IRC),  the  Employee
Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) or the rules thereunder.   The
plan  expressly states an intention to comply with SEC regulations and rulings
which  qualify  the issuance of shares under the plan for exemption  from  the
Section 16 short-swing profit recovery rule of the Act.

SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL OF PLAN

      The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares  present or represented
and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the plan.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR approval of the
plan.  Proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will be so voted, unless
shareholders specify otherwise on their proxies.  In the event this Proposal 2
does not receive the required affirmative vote, the plan will not be put into
effect.

(Proposal  3)       PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF  INDEPENDENT  PUBLIC
AUDITORS

    Deloitte & Touche has acted as independent auditors for the Company  since
1962.   The  Board  of Directors recommends ratification of the  selection  of
Deloitte  &  Touche  as  independent auditors for the current  year.   If  the
shareholders  do not ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche, the  selection
of the independent auditors will be reconsidered by the Board of Directors.  A
representative  of Deloitte & Touche will be present at the meeting  and  will
have  the  opportunity to make a statement if so desired.  Such representative
will also be available at the meeting to respond to any shareholder questions.

(Proposal 4)      OTHER MATTERS

   The Board of Directors is not aware of any matter, other than stated above,
which  will  or may properly be presented for action at the meeting.   If  any
other  matters  properly come before the meeting, it is the intention  of  the
persons named in the enclosed form of proxy to vote the shares represented  by
such proxies in accordance with their best judgment.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

    The  Company  did  not receive any request from shareholders  relating  to
matters  to  be  submitted  for  a  vote at  the  1994  Annual  Meeting.   Any
shareholder wishing to have any matter considered for submission at  the  next
Annual  Meeting  must  request such submission in  writing,  directed  to  the
Secretary of the Company at the address shown on page 1 of this statement, not
later than December 1, 1994.

YOU  ARE  RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE BY FILLING  IN
AND  SIGNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURNING IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENVELOPE
ENCLOSED  FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.  In the event that you later may  be  able  to
attend the meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person.

For the Board of Directors



\Robert M. Mattison
Robert M. Mattison
Secretary

Dated:  March 25, 1994


                                      13
<PAGE>

Appendix A

GRACO INC.
NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN
("PLAN")

   1. Purpose of the Plan.  The purpose of the Graco Inc. Nonemployee Director
Stock  Plan (the "Plan") is to provide an opportunity for nonemployee  members
of  the  Board  of  Directors  (the "Board") of Graco  Inc.  ("Graco"  or  the
"Company") to increase their ownership of Graco Common Stock ("Common  Stock")
and  thereby align their interest in the long-term success of the Company with
that of the other shareholders.

    2.  Eligibility.   Directors of the Company who are not also  officers  or
other employees of the Company or its subsidiaries are eligible to participate
in this Plan ("Eligible Directors").

    3. Administration.  This Plan will be administered by the Secretary of the
Company  (the "Administrator").  Since the issuance of shares of Common  Stock
pursuant  to  this Plan is based on elections made by Eligible Directors,  the
Administrator's  duties  under  this  Plan  will  be  limited  to  matters  of
interpretation  and administrative oversight.  All questions of interpretation
of  this Plan will be determined by the Administrator, and each determination,
interpretation or other action that the Administrator makes or takes  pursuant
to the provisions of this Plan will be conclusive and binding for all purposes
and  on  all persons.  The Administrator will not be liable for any action  or
determination made in good faith with respect to this Plan.

   4. Election to Receive Stock and Stock Issuance.

       4.1.  Election to Receive Stock in Lieu of Cash.  On forms provided  by
the  Company, each Eligible Director may irrevocably elect ("Stock  Election")
to  receive,  in  lieu of cash, shares of Common Stock having  a  Fair  Market
Value,  as  defined in Section 4.3, equal to  25%, 50%, 75%  or  100%  of  the
annual  cash  retainer (the 'Retainer") payable to that director for  services
rendered  as  a  director ("Participating Director").  A Stock Election  shall
apply only to the Retainer and not to any fees payable for attendance at Board
or  Committee meetings.  Eligible Directors are customarily paid the  Retainer
in  quarterly installments in arrears at the end of each fiscal quarter.   Any
Stock  Election must be received by the Company at least six months in advance
of  the  commencement of the first fiscal quarter with respect to  which  such
election is made.  Any Stock Election may only be amended or revoked ("Amended
Stock Election") in accordance with the procedure set forth in Section 4.4.

       4.2.   Issuance of Stock in Lieu of Cash.  Shares of Graco Common Stock
having  a  Fair  Market Value equal to the amount of the Retainer  so  elected
shall be issued to each Participating Director when each quarterly installment
of  the  Retainer is customarily paid.  The Company shall not issue fractional
shares.   Whenever, under the terms of this Plan, a fractional share would  be
required  to  be issued, an amount in lieu thereof shall be paid in  cash  for
such fractional share based upon the same Fair Market Value as was utilized to
determine  the number of Shares to be issued on the relevant issue  date.   In
the  event that a Participating Director elects to receive less than  100%  of
each quarterly installment of the Retainer in shares of Common Stock, he shall
receive the balance of the quarterly installment in cash.

      4.3   Fair Market Value.  For purposes of converting dollar amounts into
shares  of  Common Stock, the Fair Market Value of each share of Common  Stock
shall be equal to the closing price of one share of the Company's Common Stock
on the New York Stock Exchange-Composite Transactions on the last business day
of the fiscal quarter for which such shares are issued.

       4.4.   Change in Election.  Each Participating Director may irrevocably
elect  in  writing to change an earlier Stock Election, either  to  receive  a
different percentage of that director's Retainer in shares of Common Stock  or
to  receive  the entire Retainer in cash (an "Amended Stock Election").   Such
Amended  Stock  Election  shall not become effective until  the  first  fiscal
quarter  commencing  at least six months after the date  of  receipt  of  such
Amended Stock Election by the Company.

      4.5   Termination of Service as a Director.  If a Participating Director
leaves the Board before the conclusion of any fiscal quarter, he will be  paid
the  quarterly  installment of the Retainer entirely in cash,  notwithstanding
that  a  Stock Election or Amended Stock Election is on file with the Company.
The date of termination of a Participating Director's service as a director of
the  Company  will  be deemed to be the date of termination  recorded  on  the
personnel or other records of the Company.


                                      14
<PAGE>

   5. Shares Available for Issuance.

       5.1.  Maximum Number of Shares Available.  The maximum number of shares
of  the  Company's  Common  Stock, par value $1.00 per  share,  that  will  be
available for issuance under this Plan will be 100,000 shares, subject to  any
adjustments  made in accordance with the provisions of Section  5.2.   At  the
election  of  the  Administrator, the shares of  Common  Stock  available  for
issuance  under  this  Plan may be either authorized but  unissued  shares  or
treasury shares.  If treasury shares are used, all references in the  Plan  to
the  issuance  of shares will be deemed to mean the transfer  of  shares  from
treasury.

       5.2.   Adjustments  to  Shares.  In the event  of  any  reorganization,
merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification,  stock
dividend, stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, divestiture  or
extraordinary dividend, an appropriate adjustment will be made in  the  number
and/or  kind  of securities available for issuance under the Plan  to  prevent
either  the  dilution  or the enlargement of the rights of  the  Eligible  and
Participating Directors.

   6. Limitation on Rights of Eligible and Participating Directors.

       6.1.  Service as a Director.  Nothing in this Plan will interfere  with
or  limit  in any way the right of the Company's Board or its shareholders  to
remove  an  Eligible or Participating Director from the Board.   Neither  this
Plan nor any action taken pursuant to it will constitute or be evidence of any
agreement  or understanding, express or implied, that the Company's  Board  or
its  shareholders  have retained or will retain an Eligible  or  Participating
Director for any period of time or at any particular rate of compensation.

       6.2.   Nonexclusivity of the Plan.  Nothing contained in this  Plan  is
intended   to  effect,  modify  or  rescind  any  of  the  Company's  existing
compensation  plans or programs or to create any limitations  on  the  Board's
power  or authority to modify or adopt compensation arrangements as the  Board
may from time to time deem necessary or desirable.

    7. Plan Amendment, Modification and Termination.  The Board may suspend or
terminate this Plan at any time.  The Board may amend this Plan from  time  to
time  in such respects as the Board may deem advisable in order that this Plan
will  conform to any change in applicable laws or regulations or in any  other
respect  that  the  Board  may  deem to be in the  Company's  best  interests;
provided,  however, that no amendments to this Plan will be effective  without
approval  of  the  Company's  shareholders, if  shareholder  approval  of  the
amendment  is  then  required pursuant to Rule 16b-3 (or any  successor  rule)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the rules of the New
York  Stock Exchange.  In addition, the Plan may not be amended more than once
every six months other than to conform it with changes in the Internal Revenue
Code,  the  Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of  1974,  or  the  rules
thereunder.

    8.  Effective  Date  and  Duration of the Plan.  This  Plan  shall  become
effective  as  of  the  date the Company's shareholders approve  it  and  will
terminate  on  December 31, 2003, unless earlier terminated by  the  Company's
Board.

   9. Miscellaneous.

       9.1   Securities Law and Other Restrictions.  Notwithstanding any other
provision  of  this  Plan  or  any Stock Election or  Amended  Stock  Election
delivered pursuant to this Plan, the Company will not be required to issue any
shares  of Common Stock under this Plan and a Participating Director  may  not
sell,  assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock  issued
pursuant  to  this Plan, unless (a) there is in effect with  respect  to  such
shares  a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as  amended
(the  "Securities  Act")  and  any applicable  state  securities  laws  or  an
exemption from such registration under the Securities Act and applicable state
securities  laws, and (b) there has been obtained any other consent,  approval
or permit from any other regulatory body that the Administrator, in his or her
sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable.  The Company may condition such
issuance,  sale  or  transfer  upon  the receipt  of  any  representations  or
agreements  from  the parties involved, and the placement of  any  legends  on
certificates  representing shares of Common Stock, as may be deemed  necessary
or  advisable by the Company, in order to comply with such securities  law  or
other restriction.

       9.2.   Governing  Law.   The  validity,  construction,  interpretation,
administration and effect of this Plan and any rules, regulations and  actions
relating  to  this  Plan  will  be governed by and  construed  exclusively  in
accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.




                                      15
<PAGE>

GRACO INC.
4050 Olson
Memorial Highway
Golden Valley,
Minnesota 55422

This Proxy is Solicited by the Board of Directors for use
at the Graco Inc. Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 3, 1994.

The shares of common stock of Graco Inc. which you are entitled
to vote on March 10, 1994, will be voted as you specify on this card.
By  signing this proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint David A. Koch
and Robert A. Wagner as Proxies, each with full power of substitution, to vote
your  shares  as  specified on this card and on any other business  which  may
properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Item 1.  Election of Directors              __ FOR ALL  __ WITHHOLD FOR ALL
                                       
NOMINEES:  George Aristides  Ronald O. Baukol  Joe R. Lee  Gerard C. Planchon
                                       
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike
             a line through the nominee's name in the list  above)
                                       
Item 2.  Approval of Nonemployee            __ FOR  __ AGAINST  __ ABSTAIN
         Director Stock Plan

Item 3.  Ratification of Appointment of     __ FOR  __ AGAINST  __ ABSTAIN
         Deloitte & Touche as
         Independent Auditors


             PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE REVERSE SIDE BEFORE MAILING
In   their   discretion,  the  Proxies  are  authorized  to  vote  upon   such
other  business as may  properly  come  before  the  meeting.  This proxy when
properly executed will be voted in the manner directed  by the undersigned. If
no choice is specified, this proxy will be voted "FOR" Items 1,  2, and 3.


Please   sign  exactly as your name(s) appears at left.  In the case of  joint
owners, each should sign.  If signing as executor, trustee, guardian or in any
other  representative  capacity  or as an officer  of  a  corporation,  please
indicate your full title.


Dated:_____________________,1994



Signature



Signature

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY
CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

<PAGE>


                            GRAPHICS APPENDIX INDEX

Graphic                                                     Page(s)

Photographs of Directors                                        2-3

Comparative Stock Performance Graph                               6


<PAGE>



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission