Eagle Materials Inc. Celebrates Spin-Off and 10 Years on NYSE By Ringing The Closing Bell^SM

DALLAS, Feb 5, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Eagle Materials Inc. (NYSE: EXP and EXP.B) announced today that its President and Chief Executive Officer Steven R. Rowley will celebrate the spin-off of the company by ringing The Closing Bell^SM at the NYSE at 4:00 p.m. ET on Monday, February 9, 2004. Eagle Materials Inc., a publicly held company formerly known as Centex Construction Products, Inc., was spun-off by Centex Corporation effective January 30, 2004. At that time the name change occurred and the company changed the trading symbol for its common stock to EXP and EXP.B. Calendar 2004 also marks the 10th anniversary of the company's listing on the NYSE.

"Eagle Materials Inc. has been a steadily growing business for over forty years by remaining focused on trust and value, with our customers, our employees, and our shareholders," said Mr. Rowley. "We are proud to mark this special anniversary on the New York Stock Exchange as a completely independent company with a new name. As we continue to implement our strategy of disciplined growth, we are confident that we will maintain a position of strength in our industries and further improve our financial position."

Eagle Materials Inc. is a Dallas-based company that manufactures and distributes Cement, Gypsum Wallboard, Recycled Paperboard and Concrete and Aggregates.

Photographs of the NYSE bell ringing will be available via Associated Press/New York (212-621-1902), Reuters America (646-223-6285) and Bloomberg Photo (212-893-3420). The Opening Bell^SM (starting at 9:25 a.m.) and The Closing Bell^SM (starting at 3:55 p.m.) feeds are available via fiber line at Waterfront #1630. Photos of the bell ringing will also be posted on Eagle Materials Website, www.eaglematerials.com .

Forward-Looking Statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the context of the statement and generally arise when Eagle Materials is discussing its beliefs, estimates or expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Eagle Materials Inc.

Steven R. Rowley, President and CEO, or Arthur R. Zunker, Jr., Senior Vice President and CFO, both of Eagle Materials Inc., +1-214-981-5000

http://www.eaglematerials.com

Copyright ^© 2004 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

News Provided by COMTEX