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): May 4, 1999


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



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



16825 Northchase Dr., Suite 1200, Houston, Texas             77060
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(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 May 4, 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 May 4, 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/Robert D. Hardy
                                                Robert D. Hardy
                                                Vice President & Controller



Dated: May 5, 1999

                                                            Susan E. Alderton
                                                      Chief Financial Officer
                                                               (281) 423-3332


                                                                 EXHIBIT 99.1







FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



            NL INDUSTRIES, INC. ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER DIVIDEND



HOUSTON,  TEXAS -- May 4, 1999 -- NL Industries,  Inc. (NYSE:NL)  announced that
its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly  dividend of three and a
half cents per share on its common stock,  payable June 16, 1999 to shareholders
of record June 1, 1999.

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


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