GTE Senior Vice President-International Operations Bruce Haddadand his wife die in plane crash.

STAMFORD, Conn. -- GTE Corp. today reported that Bruce E. Haddad,
senior vice president - international operations, and his wife,
Dorothy, were killed in a plane crash early this morning near
Guatemala City airport.

The Haddads were returning to Dallas, where they lived, from Buenos
Aires aboard a private chartered plane. In addition to the Haddads,
there were three crew members on the plane. There were no survivors.

"It is with great personal sadness that we make this
announcement," said GTE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Charles R. Lee. "Bruce not only was one of the best businessmen
I've ever had the pleasure to work with, but he and Dorothy also were
great friends and important members of the GTE family. Bruce brought
extraordinary energy, intellect and creativity to all the posts he
held. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families."

Haddad, 43, was a 20-year veteran of GTE. He was named senior vice
president - international operations in January 1997, having served in
several key international and corporate positions, including president
of CANTV, the Venezuelan telephone company.

He was responsible for all international operations, including
those in Canada, Asia and Latin America. He also was a member of GTE's
Executive Leadership Committee, a small group of senior executives
that works closely with GTE's Office of the Chairman.

Haddad previously was senior vice president International - Latin
America from 1995 to 1997. He served as senior vice president -
International for GTE Telephone Operations from 1994 to 1995 and as
president of CANTV from 1991 to 1995. Prior to assuming his
responsibilities in Venezuela, Haddad served as vice president and
controller for GTE Corp. and its worldwide operations from 1989 to
1992. From 1985 to 1987, he was vice president - finance for CODETEL,
the telephone company in the Dominican Republic, which GTE owns and
manages. Before that, he was vice president - finance for GTE
Telephone Operations South area, and vice president - business
planning for GTE Telephone Operations headquarters.

He was chairman of the VenWorld consortium and a member of the
boards of CANTV, CTI, the Council of the Americas and Caribbean/Latin
American Action.

Haddad graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's
degree in finance and a master's degree in business administration.
The Haddads were residents of Irving, Texas.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made pending the families'
wishes.

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