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 15, 1996


                       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   (713) 423-3300


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






Item 5.   Other Events.


     On February 15, 1996, 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 February 15, 1996.



                         *      *      *      *      *  




                                    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/ Dennis G. Newkirk        
                                   Dennis G. Newkirk
                                   Vice President & Controller







Dated: February 16, 1996

                                                          Joseph S. Compofelice 
                                                          (713) 423-3332        


                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1 







FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                      NL INDUSTRIES, INC. RESUMES DIVIDEND


Houston, Texas February 15, 1996 -- NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) announced that
its Board of Directors has declared a  dividend of ten cents per share on its
common stock, payable March 15, 1996 to shareholders of record March 1, 1996. 
J. Landis Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated "We are pleased
to be resuming a regular quarterly dividend, reflecting our expectation that
industry capacity utilization rates will increase during the next several years,
despite current softness in titanium dioxide pigment prices."

NL Industries is a major international producer of titanium dioxide pigments and
specialty chemicals.

The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts
are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including,
but not limited to, future global economic conditions, global titanium dioxide
pigment productive capacity, competitive products and prices and other risks and
uncertainties detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission
filings.




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