Document:

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION
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RALSTON  PURINA  COMPANY  (the  "Company"), effective April 18, 2000 grants this
Non-Qualified Stock Option to Chief Financial Officer ("Optionee") to purchase a
total of ______shares  of  Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock") at a
price of $18.25  per  share  pursuant  to  its  1999  Incentive  Stock Plan
(the "Plan"). Subject  to  the  provisions  of  the Plan and the following
terms, Optionee may exercise  this  Option  from  time  to  time by tendering
to the Company written notice  of  exercise  together  with the purchase price
in cash, or in shares of Common  Stock  at  their  Fair Market Value as
determined by the Human Resources  Committee,  or  both.

1.     Normal  Exercise.  This Option becomes exercisable at the rate of 33-1/3%
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of  the total shares on April 18 in each of the years 2003, 2004 and 2005.  This
Option  remains  exercisable through April 17, 2010 unless Optionee is no longer
employed  by  the  Company,  in  which  case  the  Option is exercisable only in
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  paragraph  3  below.

2.     Acceleration.  Notwithstanding  the  above,  any  shares  not  previously
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forfeited  under  this  Option  will  become fully exercisable before the normal
exercise dates set forth in paragraph 1 hereof upon the occurrence of any of the
following  events  while  Optionee  is  employed  by  the  Company:

     a.     death  of  Optionee;

     b.     declaration,  by  the  Committee,  of  Optionee's  total  and
permanent disability; or

     c.   a  Change  of  Control.

3.     Exercise  After Certain Events.  Upon the occurrence of any of the events
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described  below,  any  shares  that  are exercisable upon such occurrence shall
remain  exercisable during the period stated below, but, in any event, not later
than  April  17,  2010:

     a.     If  Optionee's  employment is terminated due to declaration of total
and  permanent  disability,  such  shares  that  are  exercisable  shall  remain
exercisable  for  five  years  thereafter;

     b.     If  Optionee's  employment  is  terminated due to death, such shares
that  are  exercisable  shall  remain  exercisable  for  three years thereafter;

     c.     If  Optionee's employment is terminated voluntarily or involuntarily
(other  than  a  Termination  for Cause), such shares that are exercisable shall
remain  exercisable  for  six  months  after  such  termination;

     d.     When,  prior to a Change of Control, there has been a declaration of
forfeiture  pursuant  to Section IV of the Plan because Optionee's employment is
Terminated  for  Cause,  Optionee  engages in competition with the Company or an
Affiliate,  or  Optionee engages in any activity or conduct contrary to the best
interests of the Company or any Affiliate, such shares that are then exercisable
shall  remain  exercisable  for  seven  days  after  such  declaration;  or

     e.     After  a  Change  of Control, if Optionee's employment is Terminated
for  Cause, Optionee engages in competition with the Company or an Affiliate, or
Optionee  engages  in  any activity or conduct contrary to the best interests of
the Company or any Affiliate, such shares that are then exercisable shall remain
exercisable  for  seven  days  after  a  declaration that any of such events has
occurred.

4.     Forfeiture.  Prior  to  a  Change  of  Control, this Option is subject to
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forfeiture  for the reasons set forth in Section IV.A.1, 3 or 4 of the Plan.  If
there  is  a declaration of forfeiture, those shares that are exercisable at the
time of the declaration may be exercised as set forth in paragraph 3 hereof; all
other  shares  are  forfeited.

5.     Definitions.  Unless  otherwise  defined  in  this  Non-Qualified  Stock
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Option,  defined  terms  used herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in
the  Plan.

     "Change  of  Control"  shall  occur  when  (i)  a  person, as defined under
securities laws of the United States, acquires beneficial ownership of more than
50%  of  the outstanding voting securities of the Company; or (ii) the directors
of the Company immediately before a business combination between the Company and
another  entity,  or  a proxy contest for the election of directors, shall, as a
result  thereof, cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Company  or of any  successor  to  the  Company.

     "Eligible  Optionee"  shall mean an Optionee who is actively at work at, or
on an approved leave of absence from, the Company or an Affiliate at the time of
exercise  of  an  Eligible  Option.

     "Eligible  Option"  shall  mean  an outstanding Option, held by an Eligible
Optionee,  which  has  a  remaining  term  of  at  least  one  year.

6.     Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof
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in  any  jurisdiction  shall  not  affect  the validity or enforceability of the
remainder hereof in that jurisdiction, or the validity or enforceability of this
Non-Qualified Stock Option, including that provision, in any other jurisdiction.
To  the  extent permitted by applicable law, the Company and Optionee each waive
any  provision  of  law that renders any provision hereof invalid, prohibited or
unenforceable  in  any  respect.  If  any provision of this Option is held to be
unenforceable  for  any  reason,  it  shall  be  adjusted rather than voided, if
possible,  in order to achieve the intent of the parties to the extent possible.

7.     Grants  of  Restoration  Options.  If  Optionee  exercises this Option by
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tendering  shares  of  Common Stock that have been held for at least six months,
and  if Optionee is an Eligible Optionee and the Option qualifies as an Eligible
Option  at the time of such exercise, then Optionee shall be entitled to a grant
of  a Restoration Option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the  number  of  shares  so  tendered.  Such Restoration Option shall permit the
Optionee  to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price
equal  to  the New York Stock Exchange - Composite Transactions closing price on
the  date  of  grant, and shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as
the  Human  Resources  Committee  of  the  Board  shall  determine.

ACKNOWLEDGED  AND  ACCEPTED:          RALSTON  PURINA  COMPANY

____________________________
Optionee
                                   By:
                                      _________________________
____________________________          W.  P.  McGinnis,
Date                                  Chief  Executive  OfficerJanuary 18, 2000

Mr. Gary R. Anderson
1604 Foothills Drive South
Golden, Colorado 80401

RE:   Retention Agreement

Dear Gary:

You have  agreed  to  remain  an  employee  of  Storage  Technology  Corporation
("StorageTek"   or  the   "Company")   through  at  least  March  31,  2001.  In
consideration  of your willingness to stay with the Company until at least March
31,  2001,  this  letter will  confirm our  agreement  concerning  the  possible
termination  of your  employment  with  StorageTek on that date. In that regard,
this  letter  will  define  the terms of your  severance  under  this  Retention
Agreement (the "Retention  Agreement") and your Executive  Employment  Agreement
dated  September  30,  1999  (the  "Employment  Agreement")  at the date of your
termination (the "Termination  Date"). This Retention  Agreement  supersedes all
previous oral and written agreements  regarding your employment with StorageTek,
including the  understanding  that the terms and  conditions  of this  Retention
Agreement, to the degree that they may conflict with the terms and conditions of
your  Employment  Agreement,  shall  in all  cases  supersede  the  terms of the
Employment  Agreement,  which agreement  shall,  unless otherwise stated herein,
remain in full force and effect.

      REPORTING  RELATIONSHIP  AND  DUITES:  During  your  period  of  continued
      employment  with the Company,  you will remain a Corporate Vice President.
      Although it is  envisioned  that in such  capacity  you will report to the
      CEO,  this  reporting  relationship  may be  changed  at any  time  by the
      Company.  You further  understand  that your present and future duties and
      responsibilities could also be substantially changed by the Company. It is
      further  understood  and  agreed by you that  such  changes  will not,  in
      combination or in and of themselves, constitute and Involutary Termination
      under the terms of the Employment Agreement.

      GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:  During your period of continued employment with the
      Company  you have  agreed to focus  on:  (i)  assisting  in  defining  and
      implementing the on-going corporate  restructuring,  (ii) assisting in the
      continued refinement and implementation of corporate-wide cost reductions,
      (iii)  helping  to  improve  the  cycle  time  for  implementing  business
      processes  improvements,  (iv) working to enhance supply chain  management
      (SLM)  efficiencies,  and  (v)  such  other  tasks  as may  be  reasonably
      requested of you, from time-to-time,  by the Board of Directors,  the CEO,
      President or COO as the case may be.

      SEPARATION:  After your successful  participation in the attainment of the
      objectives  stated  above,  and  your  continued  employment  through  the
      Termination  Date, the Company will pay, within 30 days of the Termination
      Date,  a separation  payment to you equal to: (i) one and  one-half  times
      your then current annual salary, and (ii) one and one-half times your then
      current target annual MBO bonus. Additionally, all of your outstanding and
      unvested stock options will vest on the Termination Date (according to the
      terms of your Stock Option  Agreements and the Company's 1995 Stock Option
      Plan) and the Company's right to repurchase any of your previously granted
      restricted  stock will  terminate.  Pursuant to the terms of  StorageTek's
      Stock  Option  Plan,  you will have 90 days from the  Termination  Date to
      exercise all of your vested options.

      NO ADVERSE COMMENT: You agree that during your employment with the Company
      through  the  Termination  Date and for at least  one year  following  the
      Termination Date, you will not, except as specifically  required by law or
      court process or consented to in writing by the Company,  (a)  communicate
      to any  person  or  entity  any  adverse  information,  written  or  oral,
      concerning the Company,  its officers,  directors,  employees,  attorneys,
      agents or advisers  (including any  communication  concerning  information
      that  related to the  business,  operations,  prospects  or affairs of the
      Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates)  under the circumstances
      in which there is a reasonable  possibility that such information might be
      publicly  reported or  disclosed  or  otherwise  made  available  to third
      parties  (regardless of whether the  communication  of such information is
      intended  to have or cause that  result is within  your  control),  or (b)
      provide to any person (other than your attorney or  accountant)  or entity
      any  information   that  concerns  or  related  to  the   negotiations  or
      circumstances leading to the execution of this Retention Agreement.

      NON-SOLICITATION PROVISIONS: Per the terms of Section 8 of your Employment
      Agreement, you confirm that during the two-year period commencing with the
      Termination Date, you will not, directly, or indirectly, hire, solicit, or
      encourage any then-current  Company employees to apply for employment with
      any person or entity  (a) with  which you are (or intend to be)  employed,
      (b) by whom you or an entity in which you are employed or have a financial
      interest is engaged as a consultant,  recruited, independent contractor or
      otherwise,  or (c) in which you further  covenant  and agree that you will
      not  provide to any other  person or entity the names of any person who is
      then employed by the Company.

      NON-COMPETE  PROVISIONS:  Per the terms of  Section  8 of your  Employment
      Agreement,  you  confirm  that for a period of  eighteen  months  from the
      Termination Date that you will not, either directly or indirectly,  engage
      in any activity in competition  with any product or service of the Company
      (said  competitive  activities  to be  determined  and  identified  at the
      reasonable  discretion of the Company), or harmful or contrary to the best
      interest of the Company, including accepting employment with or serving as
      a consultant to any entity that is in  competition  with the Company.  Per
      Section 8, those companies  deemed to be competitors to StorageTek will be
      identified at the time of your termination.

      EARLY TERMINATION: In the event of your Involuntary Termination,  prior to
      the  Termination  Date,  the Company will pay you the  separation  pay and
      benefits  identified above at the time of your termination,  provided that
      you sign the  Settlement  and Release  Agreement  attached as Exhibit A to
      your Employment  Agreement.  During the period of your employment with the
      Company,  all other terms of your  employment as stated in your Employment
      Agreement,  including the "Change in Control" and  termination for "Cause"
      provisions  will remain in effect  through the  Termination  Date.  If you
      voluntarily   terminate  your  employment  with  the  Company  before  the
      Termination  Date,  then you will not be  entitled  to receive  any of the
      separation benefits set forth in this Retention Agreement.

      EMPLOYMENT EXTENSION:  Should you and the Company reach an agreement on or
      before the  Termination  Date  whereby you would remain an employee of the
      Company beyond the  Termination  Date, then you and the Company will enter
      into a new employment  agreement at that time. The terms and conditions of
      that new employment agreement will then supersede the terms and conditions
      of both this Retention Agreement and the Employment Agreement.

      SETTELMENT AND RELEASE:  The payments recited in this Retention  Agreement
      are  contingent  upon  your  execution  and  delivery  to  the  Company  a
      Settlement  and Release  Agreement  substantially  in the form attached as
      Exhibit A to your Employment Agreement.

      NONDISCLOSURE:  Unless  otherwise  required  to do so by law,  subpoena or
      court order,  you will not in any way  communicate or discuss the terms of
      this Retention  Agreement or the  circumstances  of its execution with any
      person,  other than your attorneys or authorized Company  personnel,  said
      personnel to be explicitly  designated by the Company's President and CEO.
      You understand that this nondisclosure  provision applies  particularly to
      current and former  employees of the Company and the Company's  customers,
      clients and vendors.

      Please sign both copies of this letter below,  indicating your acceptance,
      and return one copy for our files.

Accepted and Agreed:                            Very truly yours,
                                          STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORP.

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GARY R. ANDERSON                          David E. Weiss
                                          Chairman, President and
                                          Chief Executive Officer

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