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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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-015090.txt : 20030723
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-015090.hdr.sgml : 20030723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030723151959
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-015090
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030714
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030723

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:		03798235

	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>rrd13872.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-14</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>2003-07-14</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>5375904</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>5375904</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>Held in Naomi C. Dempsey Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Naomi C. Dempsey died on July 14, 2003.  At the time of her death, all of Ms. Dempsey&apos;s shares of Class B Common Stock of Greif, Inc. were owned by the Naomi C. Dempsey Trust (the &quot;NCD Trust&quot;).  During her lifetime, Ms. Dempsey was the trustee of, and retained the right to revoke, the NCD Trust.  Therefore, Ms. Dempsey reported these shares as being directly owned by her.  At Ms. Dempsey&apos;s death, the reporting person automatically became the successor trustee of the NCD Trust.  The reporting person is also a beneficiary of the NCD Trust.  Therefore, the reporting person has indirect beneficial interest in the shares owned by the NCD Trust.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The number of shares is owned indirectly as follows: (a) 5,375,904 shares are owned by the NCD Trust (the NCD Trust is also a separate reporting person); (b) 116,175 shares are owned by the Naomi C. Dempsey Charitable Lead Annuity Trust (the &quot;NCDCLA Trust&quot;); (c) 278,500 shares are owned by the John C. Dempsey Trust; (d) 1,663,040 shares are owned by the Naomi A. Coyle Trust (this trust is also a separate reporting person).  Mr. Dempsey also owns 129,052 shares directly.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Michael H. Dempsey by John K. Dieker pursuant to a Power of Attorney filed with the Commission.</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>rrd5743_6346.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
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<TITLE>
rrd5743_6346.html
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&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;9/23/02&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>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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