Nicor Inc.
                                                                   Form 8-K
                                                                   Exhibit 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    FOR MORE INFORMATION re: N-943
September 15, 2005                       Media Contact:       Annette Martinez
                                                              630 388-2781

                                         Financial Contact:   Mark Knox
                                                              630 388-2529

  Russ M. Strobel Appointed Chairman of the Board of Nicor Inc. and Nicor Gas

                      Completes Succession Plan Transition

Naperville, Ill. - Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS) today announced that effective
November 1, 2005 Russ M. Strobel has been appointed chairman of the board of
Nicor Inc. and Nicor Gas, in addition to his current roles as chief executive
officer and president of both companies.  Thomas L. Fisher, who has been
chairman of the Nicor and Nicor Gas boards since 1996, announced his
resignation from the boards, also effective November 1.

This appointment completes the ongoing transition of the company's leadership
from Fisher to Strobel. Strobel became president and chief executive officer of
Nicor Inc. in March of this year, and was previously president and chief
executive officer of Nicor Gas (November 2003); president of Nicor Inc. and
Nicor Gas (October 2002); and executive vice president of Nicor Inc. (February
2002). He was elected to the board of directors of Nicor Inc. and Nicor Gas in
January 2004.

"My appointment to succeed Tom Fisher is both a great honor and a great
responsibility and I want to thank the board for their vote of confidence,"
Strobel said. "I am committed to providing value for our shareholders, quality
service at a reasonable cost for our customers, and meaningful work for our
employees. Along with our talented management team and dedicated employees, I
look forward to meeting the challenges our businesses face today, and to our
future growth," he said.

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"I also want to thank Tom Fisher on behalf of the entire Nicor family for all
his contributions over a long and accomplished career at Nicor and Nicor Gas,"
Strobel said. "During nearly 40 years with the company, Tom has been an
outstanding leader. Throughout his career, Tom displayed the highest ethical
principles and a deep commitment to serving all of Nicor's constituencies. As
his many community service and industry leadership positions attest, he has also
demonstrated his sincere commitment to public service. I join our entire board
of directors and Tom's many friends and colleagues at Nicor and throughout the
industry in wishing him and his family well."

Russ Strobel Background
-----------------------

Strobel joined Nicor in December 2000 as senior vice president, general counsel
and secretary. Prior to Nicor, Strobel enjoyed a distinguished legal career as a
partner with the law firms of Jenner & Block, Friedman & Koven, and Altheimer &
Gray. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University in
1974, and earned his juris doctor, magna cum laude in 1977 from the University
of Illinois, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Strobel is a director of the American Gas Association and the United Service
Organizations (USO) of Illinois, Inc. and is a trustee of the Gene Siskel Film
Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is also a member of the
Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and the Economic Club of
Chicago.

Tom Fisher Background
---------------------

Fisher began his career with the company in 1967 and held various positions at
Nicor and Nicor Gas. He served for both companies as president and chief
financial officer as well as Nicor's vice president of operations.

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He is a 1966 graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in
industrial management. He received a master's in business administration from
the University of Chicago in 1983.

Fisher is past chairman of the American Gas Association, the Natural Gas
Council, the Gas Technology Institute and the United Way in Chicago. He also
serves on the board of LaSalle Bank Corp in Chicago and the board of trustees
for the Chicago Zoological Society, Inc.

Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS) is a holding company and is a member of the Standard and
Poor's 500 Index. Its principal businesses are Nicor Gas, one of the nation's
largest natural gas distribution companies, and Tropical Shipping, a
containerized shipping business serving the Caribbean region and the Bahamas.
Nicor also owns and has an equity interest in several energy-related
businesses.

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Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
---------------------------------------------

This document includes certain forward-looking statements about the expectations
of Nicor and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Although Nicor believes these
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, actual results may vary
materially from stated expectations. Such forward-looking statements may be
identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate,"
"believe," "expect," "intend," "may," "planned," "potential," "should," "will,"
"would," "project," "estimate," or similar phrases. Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated in the company's forward-looking statements due
to the direct or indirect effects of legal contingencies (including litigation)
and the resolution of those issues, including the effects of an Illinois
Commerce Commission (ICC) review and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
and U.S. Attorney inquiries, and undue reliance should not be placed on such
statements. Other factors that could cause materially different results include,
but are not limited to, weather conditions; natural gas and other fuel prices;
fair value accounting adjustments; inventory valuation; health care costs;
insurance costs or recoveries; legal costs; borrowing needs; interest rates;
credit conditions; economic and market conditions; tourism and construction in
the Bahamas and Caribbean region; energy conservation; legislative and
regulatory actions; tax rulings or audit results; asset sales; significant
unplanned capital needs; future mercury-related charges or credits; changes in
accounting principles, interpretations, methods, judgments or estimates;
performance of major suppliers and contractors; labor relations; and acts of
terrorism.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of this date. Nicor undertakes no obligation to
publicly release any revision to these forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of this filing.

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