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): March 18, 1999


                       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 March 18, 1999,  the  Registrant  issued the press  release  attached
hereto  as  Exhibit  99.1  and  incorporated  herein  in its  entirety  by  this
reference.




Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.


        (c)    Exhibits

               (i) Exhibit 99.1. Press Release dated March 18, 1999.



                        *      *      *      *      *




                                    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
                                                     & General Counsel



Dated: March 23, 1999

                                                          Susan E. Alderton
                                                    Chief Financial Officer
                                                               212.421.7202


                                                               EXHIBIT 99.1








FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                    NL INDUSTRIES, INC. HAS NEW CONTROLLER



HOUSTON,  TEXAS -- March 17, 1999 -- NL Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:  NL) announced
today that it has appointed Robert D. Hardy as Vice President,  Controller of NL
Industries.  Mr. Hardy,  who has been with NL since 1993,  also will continue to
oversee the Company's tax affairs.

Susan E. Alderton,  Chief  Financial  Officer of NL Industries said "Robert is a
proven executive with a thorough understanding of NL's operations.  He will be a
great asset to the Company and our management team in his new position."

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


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