Guinness World Records(TM) on hand in Chicago to Verify New Record NAPERVILLE, Ill., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- OfficeMax, a leading provider of office products and services, announced today that the rubberband ball it is sponsoring has been certified by Guinness World Records as the World's Largest Rubberband Ball at 4,594 pounds. A Guinness representative from London was on hand at a special ceremony in downtown Chicago today to oversee the official weigh-in of the rubberband ball, created by Steve Milton of Eugene, Ore. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061121/CGTU057 ) "We're delighted to have been invited to the event to certify that Steve Milton's rubberband ball has broken the world record," said Guinness World Records official Sarah Wagner. "Congratulations to Steve and OfficeMax on this accomplishment." OfficeMax transported the World's Largest Rubberband Ball in early November from Milton's garage in Oregon to downtown Chicago for the ceremony. Wagner confirmed that the OfficeMax-sponsored rubberband ball -- created by Milton with help from his 6-year-old son, Bryce -- broke the previous world record of 3,120 pounds. The 26-year-old Milton, who started his ball in November 2005 with a number of small OfficeMax rubberbands, says the ball now contains 175,000 individual rubberbands. The rubberband ball stands 5 1/2 feet-high and has a circumference of 19 feet. A rubberband ball is the corporate icon of OfficeMax. OfficeMax is sponsoring Milton as part of its kick-off of a nationwide remodel for OfficeMax retail stores starting with 11 Chicago-area locations. The renovated OfficeMax stores feature a new, easy-to-shop layout that offers an in-store cafe with WiFi connectivity, a computerized Ink Refill station, a technology hub where consumers may try out the newest electronic devices, and other shopping amenities. "OfficeMax is honored to sponsor Steve Milton, the new Guinness World Recordholder in the Largest Rubberband Ball category," says Ryan Vero, EVP- chief merchandising officer of OfficeMax. The newly crowned Largest Rubberband Ball will celebrate its coronation by appearing in the November 23 McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in its hometown of Chicago. The World's Largest Rubberband Ball will be exhibited throughout December 2006 and January 2007 at 14 of the new and remodeled OfficeMax stores across Chicago. OfficeMax is selling 3-inch rubberband balls in many of its U.S. retail stores. Consumers are being encouraged to buy a package of rubberbands at their local OfficeMax store -- as Steve Milton did -- to begin their own quest to build the next World's Largest Rubberband Ball. For more information, visit http://www.officemax.com/. About OfficeMax(R) Incorporated OfficeMax is a leader in both business-to-business and retail office products distribution. OfficeMax delivers an unparalleled customer experience -- in service, in product, in time savings, and in value -- through a relentless focus on its customers. The company provides office supplies and paper, print and document services, technology products and solutions, and furniture to large, medium and small businesses and consumers. OfficeMax customers are served by approximately 40,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, Internet and nearly 900 superstores. OfficeMax trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol OMX. More information can be found at http://www.officemax.com/ . OfficeMax Media Contacts William Bonner or Paul Maccabee/Heather Schwartz 630-864-6066 612-337-0087 or 612-423-0561 http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061121/CGTU057 http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: OfficeMax CONTACT: OfficeMax Media Contacts, William Bonner, +1-630-864-6066, or Paul Maccabee, +1-612-337-0087, or Heather Schwartz, +1-612-423-0561 Web site: http://www.officemax.com/

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