<PAGE>   1


                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(c)

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 9
                                       TO
                            THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.
                              DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN



         THIS AMENDMENT is made this 7th day of March, 2001, by The Lamson &
Sessions Co. (hereinafter referred to as the "Company");

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Company maintains The Lamson & Sessions Co. Deferred
Savings Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company reserved the right to make certain amendments
thereto; and

         WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Company to amend the Plan in order to
add a discretionary Company matching contribution;

         NOW THEREFORE, the Company hereby amends the Plan as follows, effective
as of the dates set forth below:

                                       I.

         Effective on and after January 1, 2000, Section 6.4 of the Plan is
hereby amended by adding the following subsection (c) thereto:

     (c)  For each Salaried Participant and each hourly-paid Participant who is
          not a member of a collective bargaining unit on the last day of the
          Plan Year (i) for whom a salary reduction contribution has been made
          by the Employer pursuant to Section 6.2, and (ii) who is employed on
          the last day of the Plan Year, the Employer may, in the discretion of
          its Board of Directors or by action of an officer designated by the
          Board, for periods commencing on or after January 1, 2000, also
          contribute an additional matching contribution of the percentage of
          such salary reduction contribution as is specified by the Board or its
          delegate; provided, however, that no such matching contribution shall
          be made for salary reduction contributions in excess of the limit set
          forth in Section 7.6, nor in excess of six percent (6%) of the
          Participant's Compensation for any Plan Year.




<PAGE>   2

                                      II.

         Effective on and after January 1, 2000, Subsection (b) of Section 9.1
of the Plan is hereby amended to provide as follows:

     (b)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of each Participant's
          matching contribution under Section 6.4(b) and (c), if any, shall be
          contributed or initially invested in Stock. Immediately following such
          contribution or initial investment in Stock, the Participant shall
          have the ongoing option to redirect the investment of such matching
          contribution among the investment options available under the plan.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly authorized officers, has
caused this Amendment to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                         THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.



                                         By: /s/ Charles E. Allen
                                             ----------------------------------


                                         TRUSTEES:


                                         /s/ James J. Abel
                                         --------------------------------------


                                         /s/ Charles E. Allen
                                         --------------------------------------


                                         /s/ Lucille C. Andreano
                                         --------------------------------------


                                         /s/ Lori L. Spencer
                                         --------------------------------------




                                      -2-