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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DqgUz7Ts+NKuIGJSeJNy9hyILGLEE5SCV27R0EqOv5hc2f2pE92jnUBl4W4JxIUK
 PZ/UhYdmST6qa1QJiii6AQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-001440.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-001440.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106172233
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-001440
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCGINLEY JAMES W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001165510

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-02816
		FILM NUMBER:		04511024

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O STARLOS LIGHTWAVE, INC.
		STREET 2:		7444 W. WILSON AVENUE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60706-4549

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			METHODE ELECTRONICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000065270
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC CONNECTORS [3678]
		IRS NUMBER:				362090085
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7401 W WILSON AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60706
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7088676777

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7401 WEST WILSON AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60706
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd28039.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 DECEMBER 2003
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-06</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000065270</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METHODE ELECTRONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>METHA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001165510</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCGINLEY JAMES W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7444 WEST WILSON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HARWOOD HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60706-4549</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B common stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>130901</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Note</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B common stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10002</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Note</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></non
DerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A common stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>22</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Note</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A common stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Note</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A common stock in 401(k) Trust</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFoll
owingTransaction><value>69</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A common stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>536</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B common stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>268</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnersh
ip><value>By Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A common stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.50</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><sec
urityTitle><value>Class A common stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>12.95</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A common stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></transactionD
ate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>35000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>13.0656</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option to purchase</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></transactionDate><deemed
ExecutionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.50</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-12-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-01-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></d
erivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">As Special Fiduciary and beneficiary under the William J. McGinley Marital Trusts No. 1 and No. 2.</footnote><footnote id="F2">As co-trustee and beneficiary of the Jane R. McGinley Trust dated September 18, 2001.</footnote><footnote id="F3">As Special Fiduciary and beneficiary under the William J. McGinley Marital Trust No. 2.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert J. Kuehnau, Attorney-in-Fact for James W. McGinley</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
