U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 3
INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person
Stapleton, Robert R.
c/o Western Wireless Corporation
2001 NW Sammamish Road
Suite 100
Issaquah, WA 98027
USA
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/20/96
3. IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary)
###-##-####
4. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Western Wireless Corporation
WWCA
5. Relationship of Reporting Person to Issuer (Check all applicable)
( ) Director ( ) 10% Owner (X) Officer (give title below) ( ) Other
(specify below)
President
6. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Table I -- Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned |
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1. Title of Security |2. Amount of |3. Ownership |4. Nature of Indirect |
| Securities | Form: | Beneficial Ownership |
| Beneficially | Direct(D) or | |
| Owned | Indirect(I) | |
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<S> <C> <C> <C>
Class B Common Stock |9,567*1 |D | |
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Class B Common Stock |620*1 |I |By spouse |
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<CAPTION>
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Table II -- Derivative Securitites Beneficially Owned |
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1.Title of Derivative |2.Date Exer- |3.Title and Amount | |4. Conver-|5. Owner- |6. Nature of Indirect |
Security | cisable and | of Underlying | |sion or |ship: | Beneficial Ownership |
| Expiration | Securities | |exercise |Form of | |
| Date(Month/ |-----------------------|---------|price of |Deriv- | |
| Day/Year) | |Amount |deri- |ative | |
| Date | Expira- | |or |vative |Security: | |
| Exer- | tion | Title |Number of|Security |Direct(D) or | |
| cisable | Date | |Shares | |Indirect(I) | |
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Employee Stock Option (r|12/31/94 |08/11/02 |Class B Common Stock |179,800*1|$1.61*1 |D | |
ight to buy) | | | | | | | |
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Employee Stock Option (r|12/31/94 |11/09/02 |Class B Common Stock |31,000*1 |$3.23*1 |D | |
ight to buy) | | | | | | | |
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Employee Stock Option (r|12/31/94 |01/01/03 |Class B Common Stock |99,200*1 |$4.03*1 |D | |
ight to buy) | | | | | | | |
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Employee Stock Option (r|12/31/94 |01/01/04 |Class B Common Stock |124,000*1|$4.03*1 |D | |
ight to buy) | | | | | | | |
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Employee Stock Option (r|7/29/97*2|12/31/04 |Class B Common Stock |108,500*1|$9.68*1 |D | |
ight to buy) | | | | | | | |
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Employee Stock Option (r|7/29/99*3|07/29/05 |Class B Common Stock |139,500*1|$11.29*1 |D | |
ight to buy) | | | | | | | |
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</TABLE>
Explanation of Responses:
*1Pursuant to the Company's 3.1 to 1 stock split effective May 14,
1996.
*2Vest over three years in one-third annual increments. Currently one-third
fully vested; remaining two-thirds
vesting will occur in one-third annual increments on July 29, 1996 and July 29,
1997.
*3Vest over four years in one-quarter annual increments. Vesting will occur
one-quarter on July 29, 1996,
one-quarter on July 29, 1997, one-quarter on July 29, 1998, and one-quarter on
July 29, 1999.
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/s/ Robert R. Stapleton
DATE
May 20, 1996
