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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 76q/ozA1ODslrtd/znQFnw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-013656.txt : 20030710
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-013656.hdr.sgml : 20030710
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030710164147
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-013656
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030710
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030710

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GREIF INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000043920
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAPERBOARD CONTAINERS & BOXES [2650]
		IRS NUMBER:				314388903
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		425 WINTER ROAD
		CITY:			DELAWARE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7405496000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		425 WINTER ROAD
		CITY:			DELAWARE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43015

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREIF BROTHERS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREIF BROTHERS COOPERAGE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19690820

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEMPSEY MICHAEL H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219095

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00566
		FILM NUMBER:		03782243

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2240 EXCIMITAS BLVD STE 403
		CITY:			EXCIMITAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92024
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8587563170

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		782 WEST ORANGE ROAD
		CITY:			DELAWARE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43015
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd13024.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-10</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000043920</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREIF INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GEF,GEF.B</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219095</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEMPSEY MICHAEL H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-09</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>1750</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>116175</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>Held in Naomi C. Dempsey Charitable Lead Annuity Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">The number of shares was owned directly by the Naomi C. Dempsey Charitable Lead Annuity Trust (the &quot;NCDCLA Trust&quot;).  The reporting person is the trustee of, and has a remainder interest in, the NCDCLA Trust.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Price is not applicable, since transaction was a gift.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">The number of shares owned indirectly is as follows: (a) 116,175 shares are owned by the NCDCLA Trust; (b) 278,500 shares are owned by the John Dempsey Trust; and (c) 1,663,040 shares are owned by the Naomi A. Coyle Trust.  The number of shares owned directly by Michael H. Dempsey is 129,052 shares.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Michael H. Dempsey by John K. Dieker pursuant to a POA filed with the Commission</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-10</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.POA
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>rrd4896_5342.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL H. DEMPSEY
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
rrd4896_5342.html
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<BODY>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GREIF, INC.<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;POWER OF ATTORNEY<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FOR FORMS 3, 4, AND 5 FILINGS<p><br>The undersigned, an officer and/or director of Greif, Inc., <br>a Delaware corporation (the Company), hereby constitutes and appoints <br>Gary R. Martz, John K. Dieker, and Robert S. Zimmerman, and each of <br>them, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power <br>to act without the other, with full power of substitution and <br>resubstitution, for me and in my name, place, and stead, in any and <br>all of my capacities for the Company, to sign all Forms 3, 4,
 or 5 <br>required to be filed by me with the Securities and Exchange Commission <br>(the Commission) pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange <br>Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, <br>including any and all amendments to any of the foregoing, relating to <br>the Company, and to file the same with the Commission, granting unto <br>said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and <br>authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and <br>necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the <br>undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and <br>confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them <br>or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to <br>be done by virtue hereof.<p>The undersigned has executed and delivered this Power of Attorney on <br>the date set forth below.<p><br>Dated:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9/23/03&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp
;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/ Michael H. Dempsey<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Signature of Officer/Director<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Michael H. Dempsey, Director<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Print Name and Title<p><br>
</BODY>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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