SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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                                    FORM 8-K

              Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                          Date of Report: May 16, 2002

                          BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY
                       401(K) EMPLOYEE SAVINGS TRUST PLAN


                          Butler Manufacturing Company
                              1540 Genessee Street
                           Kansas City, Missouri 64102
                              Phone (816) 968-3000

                      Incorporated in the State of Delaware

                          Commission File No. 001-12335

                I.R.S. Employer Identification Number: 44-0188420











ITEM 4.  CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

The Administrative Committee of Butler Manufacturing Company's 401(k) Employee
Savings Trust Plan (the "Committee"), approved dismissal of Arthur Andersen LLP
("Arthur Andersen") as the Company's independent auditors and the appointment of
KPMG LLP to serve as the Company's independent auditors for the Employee Savings
Trust Plan (the "Plan") for the year ending December 31, 2001. The change is
effective May 16, 2002.

Arthur Andersen's reports on the Plan's consolidated financial statements for
each of the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 did not contain an adverse
opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were such reports qualified or modified as
to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 and through the date hereof,
there were no disagreements with Arthur Andersen on any matter of accounting
principle or practice, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or
procedure which, if not resolved to Arthur Andersen's satisfaction would have
caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in
connection with the audit reports on the Plan's consolidated financial
statements for such years; and there were no reportable events as defined in
Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

The Committee provided Arthur Andersen with a copy of the foregoing disclosures.
Attached as Exhibit 16 is a copy of Arthur Andersen's letter, dated May 16,
2002, stating its agreement with such statements.

During the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 and through May 16, 2002, the
Plan did not consult KPMG LLP with respect to the application of accounting
principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type
of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's consolidated financial
statements, or any other matters or reportable events as set forth in Items
304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.


ITEM 7. - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.


(c) Exhibits.


Exhibit 16 Letter from Arthur Andersen to the Securities and Exchange Commission
dated May 16, 2002.






                                   SIGNATURES



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

                                            BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY
                                            401(K)EMPLOYEE SAVINGS TRUST PLAN

Date: May 16, 2002                          BY: /s/  Larry C. Miller
                                                --------------------
                                                Larry C. Miller
                                                Member of the Administrative
                                                Committee