8-K

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): August 16, 2004

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Georgia	001-05690	58-0254510
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

2999 Circle 75 Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339

(Addresses of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

(770) 953-1700

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-99.1 PRESS RELEASE DATED AUGUST 16, 2004

Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.

     The Board of Directors of Genuine Parts Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents per share on the Company’s common stock.

     The dividend is payable October 1, 2004 to shareholders of record September 10, 2004.

     In addition, the Company announced the following officer change: Thomas C. Gallagher elected as President and Chief Executive Officer.

     Attached and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the press release of Genuine Parts Company, dated August 16, 2004, reporting Genuine Parts Company dividend payable October 1, 2004 and officer change.

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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 hereunto duly authorized.

	GENUINE PARTS COMPANY
	By:	/s/	Jerry W. Nix
		Name:	Jerry W. Nix
		Title:	Executive Vice President – Finance (Principal Financial Officer)
Date: August 16, 2004

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated August 16, 2004.

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:      Jerry W. Nix, Executive Vice President - Finance
              (770) 612-2048


                              GENUINE PARTS COMPANY
                      ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                     AND DECLARES REGULAR QUARTERLY DIVIDEND


Atlanta, Georgia, August 16, 2004 -- Larry Prince, Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC), announced that the
Board of Directors elected Thomas C. Gallagher to the position of President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Gallagher, 56 years old, has been
with Genuine Parts Company for 34 years and is only the fourth CEO the Company
has had in its seventy-six year history. Mr. Gallagher is active in many civic
activities and serves on the Board of Directors of Oxford Industries, Inc. and
STI Classic Funds.

Mr. Prince will continue in his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors of Genuine Parts Company declared a regular quarterly
cash dividend of 30 cents per share on the Company's common stock.

The dividend is payable October 1, 2004 to shareholders of record September 10,
2004.

ABOUT GENUINE PARTS COMPANY

Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the
U.S., Canada and Mexico. The Company also distributes industrial replacement
parts in the U.S. and Canada through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S.P.
Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes product nationwide in
the U.S. and in Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes
electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S. and Mexico. Genuine
Parts Company had 2003 revenues of $8.4 billion.


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