Nicor Inc.
Form 10-K
Exhibit 10.26

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
CHANGE-IN-CONTROL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
NICOR INC. AND RUSS M. STROBEL

     Pursuant to the Resolution adopted by the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors of Nicor Inc. at its November 21, 2002 meeting, the
Change-in-Control Agreement between Nicor Inc. and Russ M. Strobel, dated
December 20, 2000 (the “Agreement”) is hereby amended in the following
particulars, effective as of November 21, 2002:

1.   By adding the following at the end of subsection 5.1.6 of the Agreement:  
    “If the Executive participates in the Company’s nonqualified Supplemental
Senior Officer Retirement Plan (“SSORP”), on the Termination Date (i) the
Executive shall become fully vested in all contributions (and in any earnings
applied to such contributions) made by the Company on behalf of the Executive
under the SSORP or any successor plan, if applicable, and (ii) the Company shall
immediately make an additional contribution to the SSORP of an amount equal to
the product of (x) the Annual Deferral Percentage (as defined in the SSORP) used
for the most recently completed SSORP Plan Year, times (y) the amount payable
under subsection 5.1.1.4 of this Agreement.”   2.   By replacing subsection
11.15 of the Agreement in its entirety with the following:       “11.15 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and First Amendment hereto contain the entire
understanding of the Company, Nicor Gas and the Executive with respect to its
subject matter.”

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have executed this First
Amendment as of November 22, 2002.

              /s/ Russ M. Strobel    

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    Russ M. Strobel               Nicor Inc.               By:   /s/ Thomas L.
Fisher        

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        Chairman and CEO