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 11, 2000


                       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
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  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






Item 5.  Other Events.
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         On May 11,  2000,  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.
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         (c)      Exhibits

                  (i)      Exhibit 99.1.    Press Release dated May 11, 2000.



                        *      *      *      *      *




                                    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 18, 2000

                                                             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 11, 2000 - NL Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:NL)  announced
that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of fifteen
cents per share on its common stock,  payable June 30, 2000 to  shareholders  of
record June 15, 2000.

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


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