<PAGE>   1

                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)
 
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
 
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.   )
 
Filed by the Registrant [X]
 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
 
Check the appropriate box:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement                [ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission
                                                     Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
</TABLE>

                             WEB PRESS CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
[X]  No fee required.
 
[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) 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 (set forth the amount on which the
          filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
 
     (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
 
     (5)  Total fee paid:
 
[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
 
[ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(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>   2
                              WEB PRESS CORPORATION

                             22023 68th Avenue South

                             Kent, Washington 98032
                -------------------------------------------------

                    Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

                            to be held June 26, 1998
                -------------------------------------------------


To Our Shareholders:

The Annual Meeting of the shareholders of Web Press Corporation (the "Company")
will be held at the Company's offices at 22023 68th Avenue South, Kent,
Washington at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Friday, June 26, 1998, for the
following purposes:

               1. To elect seven persons to the Board of Directors of the
Company to serve until the election of their successors now scheduled to occur
at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the shareholders;

               2. To transact such other business as may properly come before
the meeting.

A proxy statement containing information regarding the above item appears on the
following pages. The Company's 1997 Annual Report is enclosed.

The record of shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the
Annual Meeting was determined as of the close of business on May 15, 1998.

We have enclosed a proxy card which will enable you to vote your shares on the
issues to be considered at the meeting. All you need to do is mark the proxy to
indicate your vote, date and sign the proxy, and then return it to the Company
in the enclosed envelope as soon as conveniently possible. If you wish to vote
in favor of the agenda item in accordance with the Board of Director's
recommendation, you need not mark your vote on the proxy but need only sign,
date, and return it to the Company.


                                  Page 1 of 13
<PAGE>   3

Management sincerely appreciates your support. We hope to see you at the Annual
Meeting.

                                    By Order of the Board of Directors,


                                    \S\ Craig L. Mathison
                                    Craig L. Mathison
                                    Secretary


May 29, 1998
Kent, Washington



        ----------------------------------------------------------------

                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

           Please mark, date and sign the enclosed proxy and promptly
               return it to the Company in the enclosed envelope.

        ----------------------------------------------------------------



                                       2
<PAGE>   4

                              WEB PRESS CORPORATION
                             22023 68th Avenue South
                             Kent, Washington 98032


                                    --------


                          PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 1998
                       ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS



INTRODUCTION

The 1998 Annual Meeting of shareholders of Web Press Corporation (the "Company")
will be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Friday, June 26, 1998, at the
Company's offices at 22023 68th Avenue South, Kent, Washington.

This proxy statement is being distributed in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Company's Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting. The
Company intends to commence distribution of this proxy statement and the
materials which accompany it on June 1, 1998. Except as otherwise expressly
indicated, all information herein is provided as of May 15, 1998. Solicitation
pursuant to this proxy statement may be followed by personal solicitation of
certain shareholders by Management.

Each shareholder of record is invited to use the proxy card which accompanies
this proxy statement to vote on (or to abstain from voting on) the proposal to
be presented at the Annual Meeting. For the reasons indicated elsewhere in this
proxy statement, Web Press' Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote
FOR the agenda item on the proxy card. A shareholder who desires to vote on the
matter in accordance with the Board's recommendation need, however, only date,
sign and return the enclosed proxy card. The Company requests that the dated and
signed proxy be returned as soon as possible.

The record of shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the
Annual Meeting was determined as of the close of business on May 15, 1998
(herein called the "record date"). At that time, 3,105,413 shares of Web Press
common stock were outstanding. Each share of the common stock entitles its
holder to one vote.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company's Board of Directors has nominated seven individuals for election to
the Board to serve until the 1999 annual shareholders' meeting or until their
successors are elected and qualified. The nominees are Gary B. Palmer, Rufus M.
Sprague, Patrick F. Dunn, Edwin P. Beierlorzer, Alan W. White, Rolynn G. Mercer,
and Roy B. Thompson. All of the nominees are 



                                       3
<PAGE>   5

presently members of the Board. If, on account of death or any other unforeseen
contingency, any of such nominees should not be available for election, then the
Board of Directors will either (i) reduce the size of the Board to eliminate the
position for which the person was nominated or (ii) nominate a new candidate for
election to the Board in place of the person unable to serve and vote in favor
of the new candidate all shares covered by management proxies on which authority
to vote for management nominees has not been generally withheld. Any such
changes will be announced at the Annual Meeting but no advance notice of such
change will be mailed or otherwise provided to the shareholders.

Management recommends that you vote for the nominees named above for election to
the Board of Directors.

The Board has determined that seven directors (two outside directors and five
members of management) are adequate, and the Board does not intend, at this
time, to increase the size of the Board to the maximum of nine members allowed
by the Company's By-laws.

The following table identifies the seven persons nominated by the Board of
Directors for election to the Board at the 1998 Annual Meeting and with respect
to each person named shows: (i) his age; (ii) his principal business experience
during the past five years (including all positions and offices held with the
Company); and (iii) the year in which he first became a member of the Board of
Directors.




                                       4
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                    Experience during                           Director
Name                        Age     Past Five Years                               Since
----                        ---     -----------------                           ---------
<S>                          <C>                                                  <C>   
G.B. Palmer                  50     President since                             12/20/96
December 20, 1996.                  Director of Manufacturing
                                    September 1990 to
                                    December 20, 1996.

R.M. Sprague                 58     Founder and owner                            1/30/97
                                    Sprague Metal Co.,
                                    a manufacturer of
                                    sheet metal products.

P.F. Dunn                    49     Tax Manager with the State                   2/25/97
                                    and Local Division,
                                    The Boeing Company, a
                                    Washington based aerospace
                                    product manufacturer.

E.P. Beierlorzer              58    Vice President of Engineering                6/27/97
                                    since November 1997.
                                    Director of Engineering from
                                    June 1997 to November 1997.
                                    Consultant from July 1996 to
                                    June 1997.  Chief engineer
                                    with Ecopak division, Ranpak
                                    Corporation, a manufacturer
                                    of packaging material and
                                    equipment,from August 1992 to
                                    June 1996

A.W. White                    43    Vice President of Purchasing                 6/27/97
                                    since November 1997.
                                    Purchasing manager since 1976.

R.G. Mercer                   56    Vice President of Manufacturing              6/27/97
                                    since November 1997.  Director
                                    of manufacturing December 1996
                                    to November 1997.  Production
                                    manager August 1990 to December
                                    1996.
</TABLE>


                                       5
<PAGE>   7
<TABLE>

<S>                           <C>                                               <C>  
R.B. Thompson                 57    Vice President of Technical                  6/27/97
                                    Services since November 1997. Customer
                                    service manager October 1985 to November
                                    1997.
</TABLE>

FUNCTIONS AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AND ITS COMMITTEES

The Board of Directors consisted of Directors G.B. Palmer, R.M. Sprague and P.F.
Dunn until June 27, 1997. They held two meetings in 1997. The Board was expanded
to seven members on June 27, 1997. The new Directors are E.P. Beierlorzer, A.W.
White, R.G. Mercer, and R.B. Thompson. One meeting of the seven member Board was
held in 1997. Each director attended more than 75% of the total board and
committee meetings held while a member of the Board.

A number of important functions of the Board of Directors are performed by the
committees which are comprised solely of members of the Board. The Board has
designated two committees: an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. The
Board as a whole appoints members to these committees, from among the outside
directors, at the first meeting of the Board which occurs after the election to
the Board of Directors. The Board retains the power to change at any time the
authority or responsibility delegated to each committee or the members serving
on such committee.

The Audit Committee performs the following principal functions: It recommends to
the Board of Directors the firm of independent public accountants to audit the
Company's financial statements for each fiscal year; reviews with the Company's
independent auditors the general scope of their audit services; reviews the
nature and extent of the non-audit services supplied by the Company's
independent auditors; reviews with the independent auditors the results of their
audit; reviews reports and recommendations made to the Committee by company
personnel and by independent auditors; reviews programs to monitor accounting
practices and the effectiveness of internal accounting controls; reviews
exceptions to such programs as are brought to its attention; approves the fees
for services rendered by the independent auditors; and consults with management
as it deems appropriate on the results of its reviews. The current members of
the audit committee are P.F. Dunn and R.M. Sprague. The Committee met once in
1997.

The Compensation Committee reviews remuneration and recommends to the Board of
Directors any changes in remuneration (including salaries, options, commissions,
bonuses, fringe benefits, and incentive compensation) for the officers and
managers of the Company. The current members of the Compensation Committee are
R.M. Sprague and P.F. Dunn. The Committee met once in 1997.

The Board of Directors does not have a standing committee responsible for
nominating persons to become directors.


                                       6
<PAGE>   8

COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1997

The following table sets forth the aggregate total cash compensation accrued
during the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995 for the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.

                               Annual Compensation

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Long-Term     All Other
Name/Principal                                   Salary      Bonus      Compensation  Compensation
   Position                             Year       ($)        ($)            $             $
--------------                          ----    --------    -------      ------------  ------------
<S>                                     <C>       <C>       <C>            <C>           <C>
G. B. Palmer                            1997      65,614          0            0             0
President/General Manager/              1996      55,000          0            0             0
Director (Effective December 20, 1996)

W. R. Marcouiller                       1996     168,301     25,763            0       400,000 (1)
President/General Manager/Director      1995     164,145     64,416            0             0
(Retired December 20, 1996)
</TABLE>

(1)     On December 20, 1996, Mr. Marcouiller retired as President/General
        Manager of the Company and resigned as a director of the Company. His
        employment agreement with the Company stipulated that a payment of $400
        thousand would be due him upon termination of his employment. That
        amount is included in All Other Compensation.

The Compensation Committee has established an incentive plan for the Company's
President. Effective June 1, 1997, the President's base salary is $72,500 per
year. The President is to receive a bonus of 5% of the Company's pre-tax
earnings in excess of $600 thousand, plus .5% of gross sales in excess of $11
million. No bonus was earned in 1997.

The registrant and Mr. Marcouiller entered into a separation agreement on March
5, 1997. Under terms of the agreement, the Company paid Mr. Marcouiller a
performance bonus of 12.5% of the pre-tax earnings of the Company for the six
month period ending June 30, 1997. That bonus was $7,230.

Directors who are not employees of the Company are paid an annual retainer of
$1,000, $500 per year for participation on the audit or compensation committees,
and $50 per meeting.

No officer, director, nominee or associate of any officer, director, or nominee
was indebted to the Company in an amount in excess of $60,000 at any time during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.


                                       7
<PAGE>   9

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON FISCAL YEAR 1997
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Company's Compensation Committee regularly meets once each year and holds
special meetings as required. The Committee is currently composed of two outside
directors, R.M. Sprague, its Chairman, and P.F. Dunn. The Committee is
responsible for reviewing and approving compensation and benefit programs that
cover officers and key executives of the Company. This includes oversight of
salary levels and salary changes for corporate officers, annual bonus plan award
and payment decisions, stock options, change of control agreements, and any
other forms of remuneration. In addition, the Committee evaluates performance of
management, considers management succession, and deals with other matters
related to senior management.

The Committee, in reviewing compensation packages including salaries,
commissions, bonuses and stock options for its officers and key executives, uses
periodic compensation surveys by such consulting firms as Milliman & Robertson
Consulting, Washington Employer's, and Panel's Officer Compensation Report. It
also considers S.E.C. and annual report information concerning compensation
received by officers of similar companies, as well as information received from
executive placement firms.

The Company's compensation program for its President is stated in the section
next above. The Compensation Committee has determined that such compensation is
consistent with competitive conditions for chief executive officers considering
the degree of responsibility, knowledge and experience involved as well as the
nature and size of the corporation.

The Company's Vice President of Sales receives commission income only, but is
permitted to draw against commissions during the course of the year.

The remainder of the officers and directors are under no formal compensation
agreements but all are paid based on the competency, skills, and experience
required by their positions. The Compensation Committee has determined that all
are being compensated reasonably and fairly.

The Compensation Committee expects that all compensation paid by the Company to
its executive officers will be within the limits of deductibility under Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(The foregoing report was furnished by Messrs. Sprague (Chairman) and Dunn.)

SHAREHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPH

Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total shareholder
return on the Company's Common Stock against the cumulative total return of the
Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index, Standard & Poor's Smallcap 600 Index, and
the Standard & Poor's Machinery-Diversified Index for the period of five years
commencing December 31, 1992 and ending December 31, 1997. The graph assumes
that $100 was invested on December 31, 1992 in each 


                                       8
<PAGE>   10

of the Company's Common Stock, the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index, Standard
& Poor's Smallcap 600 Index, and the Standard & Poor's Machinery-Diversified
Index and that all dividends were reinvested. This data was furnished by
Standard & Poor's Compustat Services, Inc.

Note that "Shareholders' Return" is measured by changes in the market price of
stock adjusted for dividends paid. Since Web Press Corporation stock is very
thinly traded, the market price of its stock does not, in management's opinion,
accurately reflect the performance of the Company.

Web's performance should be measured against other companies in the printing
press manufacturing industry; however, figures for Web's competitors are not
available. The Standard & Poor's figures are believed to be the most nearly
comparable, but they do not provide a direct comparison with companies in the
printing press manufacturing industry.

                 Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return
                   to Shareholders as Measured by Stock Price*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 Indexed Returns
                            Years Ending December 31,

        Company/Index          1992           1993          1994         1995       1996          1997
        -------------          ----           ----          ----         ----       ----          ----
<S>                             <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>        <C>            <C>  
Web Press Corporation           100          100.00         67.38       113.48     132.99         73.49
S & P Machinery Diversified     100          148.07        144.14       177.87     221.71        293.27
S & P Smallcap 400 Index        100          118.79        113.12       147.01     178.35        223.98
S & P Midcap 400 Index          100          113.95        109.87       143.86     171.49        226.80
</TABLE>

* Assumes that the value of the investments in Web Press Corporation common
stock and each index stock was $100 on December 31, 1992 and that all dividends
were reinvested.


                                       9
<PAGE>   11

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth, as of May 15, 1998, information with respect to
the beneficial ownership of common stock of the Company by each person who is
known by the Company to have owned beneficially more than 5% of the Company's
common stock, and by each of its executive officers and directors, and by its
executive officers and directors as a group:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                               Percent
Name and Address                            Shares Owned                       Of Class
----------------                            ------------                       --------
<S>                                           <C>                                <C>   
Alan W. White                                 551,400                            17.76%
4702 Fremont Ave. N.
Seattle, WA  98103

Rolynn G. Mercer                              520,667 (1)                       16.77%
14409 - 151 Pl. SE
Renton, WA  98056

Roy B. Thompson                               513,000 (2)                       16.52%
3901 NE 22
Renton, WA  98056

Gary B. Palmer                                264,833                            8.53%
285 Mt. Rainier Pl.
Issaquah, WA  98027

Edwin P. Beierlorzer                          256,500                            8.26%
4714 - 161 Ave. SE
Bellevue, WA  98006

William F. Carmody                            155,800 (3)                        5.02%
10826 Auburn Ave. S
Seattle, WA  98178

Rufus M. Sprague                               63,200                            2.04%
417 Milwaukee Blvd. N.
Pacific, WA  98047

Charles A. Gath                                 6,000 (4)                         .19%
640 Jasmine Pl. N.W.
Issaquah, WA  98027

</TABLE>




                                       10
<PAGE>   12

<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>                               
Patrick F. Dunn                                  -0-                               *
9768 Waters Ave. S
Seattle, WA  98118

Craig L. Mathison                                -0-                               *
4504 SW Director Pl.
Seattle, WA  98136

All Directors and Officers
 as a Group (9 persons)                     2,175,600                           70.06%
</TABLE>

*  Less than 1%

(1)     Includes 73,894 shares owned by Mr. Mercer's wife.

(2)     Includes 54,605 shares owned by Mr. Thompson's wife.

(3)     Includes 800 shares held as custodian for Mr. Carmody's child as to
        which he disclaims beneficial ownership.

(4)     Includes 1,000 shares held as custodian for Mr. Gath's grandchild as to
        which he disclaims beneficial ownership.

R.M. Sprague, a Director of the Company and owner of Sprague Metal Company, has
an ongoing relationship with the Company as a supplier of sheet metal products
and other miscellaneous parts. This relationship is expected to continue in the
future. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Company purchased
parts costing $147,010 from the Sprague Metal Company. The Company's management
negotiates purchase orders and prices for the items purchased. Management
believes the prices paid are competitive with other sources.

APPOINTMENT OF AND SERVICES PERFORMED
BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Grant Thornton audited the Company's financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 1997. This firm has audited the consolidated financial statements
of the Company since 1994. A representative of the firm will be present at the
Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if he/she so desires,
and will be available to respond to appropriate questions raised orally at the
meeting or submitted to the Company's Secretary before the meeting.

With the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors has
appointed Grant Thornton to audit the Company's financial statements for the
year ending December 31, 1998.

                                       11
<PAGE>   13

In addition to auditing, Grant Thornton performed other professional services
for the Company during 1997.

GENERAL INFORMATION

                             Quorum and Adjournments

A majority of the voting power represented by the common stock outstanding on
the record date will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the
Annual Meeting of shareholders. All management proxies grant authority to vote
the shares covered thereby: (i) to adjourn the Annual Meeting of shareholders
until a quorum can be obtained or for any other reason deemed desirable by
management; (ii) to set the time at which the meeting will be held after any
such adjournment; and (iii) on all issues which come up for vote at the meeting
whenever it is held after any such adjournment.

              Voting of Proxies Solicited by the Board of Directors

All shares of common stock represented by any proxy card in the accompanying
form which is completed as directed on the accompanying proxy card or in any
other manner reasonably satisfactory to the Company and which is received by the
Company in time to permit voting (a "management proxy") will be voted as
directed on such proxy and, in the absence of such directive, will be voted FOR
the election as directors of the Company of the persons nominated by the Board
of Directors. Under applicable law, the seven persons who receive the greatest
number of votes cast for election of directors will be elected. Abstention from
voting for one or more directors will have the practical effect of voting
against such director or directors since it will mean fewer votes for approval.
Broker non-votes will have the same effect.

Management of the Company does not know of any matter which will be presented
for action at the 1998 Annual Meeting in addition to the matter identified in
this proxy statement. All shares covered by management proxy will be voted with
respect to any other matter not described in this proxy statement, which is
properly brought before the meeting, in accordance with the judgment of the
proxies.

                             Revocability of Proxies

Any proxy may be revoked by the person or persons giving it at any time before
it has been exercised at the meeting by giving notice of revocation to the
Company's Secretary in writing or by voting by ballot at the meeting.

              Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Report Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
that certain of the Company's officers and directors, and persons who own more
than ten percent of a regis-


                                       12
<PAGE>   14

tered class of the Company's equity securities, file reports of ownership and
changes of ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers,
directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by SEC
regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all such forms they file.

Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by the Company,
the Company believes that, in 1997, all filing requirements applicable to its
officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied
with.

                               Solicitation Costs

This proxy statement has been issued in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors. The Company will pay the cost of the
preparation and mailing of this proxy statement and all other costs in this
proxy solicitation.

                           1999 Shareholder Proposals

In order for a proposal by any shareholder to be included in the proxy statement
and form of proxy which will be issued by the Company in connection with the
1999 Annual Meeting of shareholders, the proposal (i) must be delivered in
writing to the Company's Secretary at 22023 68th Ave., South, Kent, Washington,
98032 not later than February 2, 1999 and (ii) must satisfy the conditions
established by the Securities and Exchange Commission as necessary to entitle
such proposal to be included in the proxy statement and form of proxy.

                             Reports to Shareholders

The Company has mailed this proxy statement and a copy of its 1997 Annual Report
to each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting. Included in the 1997 Annual
Report are the Company's consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1997.


A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-KSB FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1997, AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, MAY BE
OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE BY SENDING A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR TO THE
SECRETARY/TREASURER, WEB PRESS CORPORATION, 22023 68TH AVE., SOUTH, KENT,
WASHINGTON, 98032.

                                    By order of the Board of Directors,


                                    \S\Craig L. Mathison
May 29, 1998                        Craig L. Mathison
Kent, Washington                    Secretary

                                       13

<PAGE>   15
PROXY                                                                    PROXY


                             WEB PRESS CORPORATION
                     22023 68th Ave. South, Kent, WA 98032
          -----------------------------------------------------------
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                 JUNE 26, 1998
          -----------------------------------------------------------
          This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors

      

      The undersigned hereby appoints G.B. Palmer or C.L. Mathison as Proxy, in
the order named and each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby
authorizes the Proxy to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the
shares of common stock of Web Press Corporation held of record by the
undersigned on May 15, 1998, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held
on June 26, 1998 or any adjournment thereof.

                         DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              FOLD AND DETACH HERE


<PAGE>   16
                                                              Please mark
                                                              your choices  [X]
                                                              like this


                                            FOR              WITHHOLD
                                       all nominees          AUTHORITY
                                       below (except     to vote for all
                                       as marked to      nominees listed below
                                       the contrary

1.    ELECTION OF DIRECTORS                 [ ]                  [ ]



       NOMINEES: G.B. Palmer, R.M. Sprague, P.F. Dunn, E.P. Beierlorzer,
                     A.W. White, R.G. Mercer, R.E. Thompson

(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee strike a
line through the nominee's name in the list above).

                                                     FOR     AGAINST    ABSTAIN

2.    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 herein by the undersigned
                               stockholder, if no direction is made, this Proxy
                               will be voted for the nominees named in Item 1.

                                        Please sign exactly as name appears
                                        above. When shares are held by joint
                                        tenants or spouses, both should sign.
                                        When signing as attorney, executor,
                                        administrator, trustee or guardian,
                                        please give full title as such. If a
                                        corporation, please sign in full
                                        corporate name by president or other
                                        authorized officer. If a partnership,
                                        please sign in partnership name by
                                        authorized person.

                                        Dated                            , 1998
                                             ----------------------------

                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Signature

                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Signature if held jointly

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


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              FOLD AND DETACH HERE