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<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ST MARY LAND & EXPLORATION CO
<CIK>0000893538
<ASSIGNED-SIC>1311
<IRS-NUMBER>410518430
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
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<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-20872
<FILM-NUMBER>02772065
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<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1776 LINCOLN ST STE 1100
<CITY>DENVER
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>80203
<PHONE>3038618140
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
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<DESCRIPTION>09/24/02 8K - PRESS RELEASE
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<HEAD><TITLE>09/24/02 8K</TITLE></HEAD>
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<PRE>
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
                     September 24, 2002 (September 20, 2002)

                     ST. MARY LAND &amp; EXPLORATION COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                    000-20872                  41-0518430
(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission               (I.R.S Employer
      of incorporation)             File Number)             Identification No.)


             1776 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (303) 861-8140


                                 Not applicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)




Item 5. Other Events

     On September 20, 2002, the registrant issued a press release entitled "St.
Mary Announces Retirement of Thomas E. Congdon as Board Chairman." A copy of
this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.


Item 7.    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

      (c)    Exhibits.

              The following exhibit is furnished as part of this report:

              Exhibit 99.1   Press release of St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration
                             Company dated September 20, 2002.




                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                         ST. MARY LAND &amp; EXPLORATION COMPANY

Date: September 24, 2002                 /s/ RICHARD C. NORRIS
                                         -----------------------------------
                                         Richard C. Norris
                                         Vice President-Finance,
                                         Secretary and Treasurer

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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.77Q1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>exhibit991.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1 PRESS RELEASE
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<HEAD><TITLE>09/24/02 8K Exhibit 99.1</TITLE></HEAD>
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                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

                                                       For Information, Contact:
                                                       Mark A. Hellerstein
                                                       Robert T. Hanley
                                                       303-861-0934


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  ST. MARY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF THOMAS E. CONGDON AS BOARD CHAIRMAN

DENVER, September 20, 2002 - St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company (Nasdaq:
MARY) announced today that Thomas E. Congdon, 76, retired yesterday as its
Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Congdon will continue to serve the
Company as a Board member.

The Company also announced that Mark A. Hellerstein was elected Chairman of the
Board. Mr. Hellerstein will assume the Chairman's duties in addition to his
current duties as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

"Tom has been an officer or Chairman of St. Mary since he moved the Company to
Denver in 1966. Under his guidance, St. Mary has transformed itself from a
royalty distribution company to a passive oil and gas and real estate investment
vehicle to a fully operating public oil and gas company. Few companies,
regardless of their greatness, survive for 94 years, let alone are currently
listed by Fortune magazine as one of the ten fastest growing companies in
America. His leadership and vision have been vital to the success we have
enjoyed. We are pleased that Tom will remain on the Board and we look forward to
his continued involvement in the Company for many years to come," said Mr.
Hellerstein.

                                       ###


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