SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    ------


                                   FORM 8-K


                                CURRENT REPORT



                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 17, 1998


                       NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



New Jersey                   1-640                    13-5267260
(State or other       (Commission File No.)     (Employer ID No.)
jurisdiction of
incorporation)



16825 Northchase Dr., Suite 1200, Houston, Texas             77060
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (281) 423-3300


                          Not Applicable
 (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)








Item 5.     Other Events.


      On February 17, 1998,  the  Registrant  issued the press release  attached
hereto  as  Exhibit  99.1  and  incorporated  herein  in its  entirety  by  this
reference.













                        *      *      *      *      *




                                   SIGNATURE



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


                                          NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                          (Registrant)



                                          /s/ David B. Garten
                                          David B. Garten
                                          Vice President & Secretary



Dated: February 19, 1998

                                                           J. Landis Martin
                                                          President and CEO
                                                             (303) 296-5600



                                                               EXHIBIT 99.1






FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



             NL INDUSTRIES, INC. HAS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER



HOUSTON, TEXAS -- February 17, 1998 -- NL Industries,  Inc. (NYSE: NL) announced
today that it has appointed Susan E. Alderton as Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer of NL Industries. She replaces Joseph S. Compofelice who has resigned to
become Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer of CompX  International,  Inc. Ms.
Alderton has been with NL since 1986 in a variety of financial  positions,  most
recently serving as Vice President,  Treasurer.  She has also been a director of
Tremont Corporation (NYSE: TRE) since 1990.

J. Landis Martin,  President and Chief  Executive  Officer of NL Industries said
"We wish Joe well in his new and exciting  position  with CompX.  We are pleased
that we will continue to have the benefit of his vision and his  enthusiasm as a
board  member of NL. We are also  fortunate  that we will be able to replace Joe
with Susan Alderton.  Susan is a seasoned executive with a thorough knowledge of
NL's operations."

Mr.  Compofelice has been Vice President and Chief Financial  Officer of Tremont
Corporation and Executive Vice President of Valhi,  Inc. (NYSE: VHI) since 1994.
He also has served as Vice President,  Chief  Financial  Officer and director of
Titanium Metals Corporation (Nasdaq: TIMT) since 1996.

CompX  International  is a manufacturer of ergonomic  computer  support systems,
precision ball bearing drawer slides and  medium-security  mechanical  locks for
office  furniture  and a  variety  of  other  applications.  CompX,  which is an
affiliate of Valhi,  Inc.,  recently filed its initial public offering of common
stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

NL  Industries,  Inc. is a major  international  producer  of  titanium  dioxide
pigments.


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