8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION



                             WASHINGTON, DC  20549



                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT



               Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
                              Exchange Act of 1934



                                  May 4, 1999
               (Date of Report, date of earliest event reported)



                                  VALHI, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

      Delaware                1-5467              87-0110150
  (State or other          (Commission          (IRS Employer
  jurisdiction of          File Number)         Identification
   incorporation)                                    No.)



    5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, TX      75240-2697
    (Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)



                                 (972) 233-1700
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



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

Item 5: Other Events

     On May 4, 1999, the registrant, Valhi, Inc., issued the press release
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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

          (c)  Exhibit

          Item No.      Exhibit Index
          ----------    ------------------------------------------

          99.1         Press release dated May 4, 1999 issued by Valhi, Inc.

                                   SIGNATURES


     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.

                                VALHI, INC.
                                (Registrant)




                                By:  /s/ A. Andrew R. Louis
                                    -----------------------------
                                    A. Andrew R. Louis
                                    Secretary




Date:  May 4, 1999

EX-99.1

                          PRESS RELEASE



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  CONTACT:

VALHI, INC.                             STEVEN L. WATSON
THREE LINCOLN CENTRE                    PRESIDENT
5430 LBJ FREEWAY, SUITE 1700            (972) 233-1700
DALLAS, TEXAS 75240-2697



                     VALHI DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND AND
                       HOLDS ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING


     DALLAS, TEXAS . . . May 4, 1999 . . . Valhi, Inc. (NYSE: VHI) announced
today that its board of directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of
five cents ($0.05) per share on its common stock, payable on June 30, 1999 to
stockholders of record at the close of business on June 8, 1999.

     Valhi also announced that the Company's stockholders elected six directors
for terms of one year at the annual stockholders meeting held today.  The
directors of the Company are:  Norman S. Edelcup, Kenneth R. Ferris, Glenn R.
Simmons, Harold C. Simmons, J. Walter Tucker, Jr. and Steven L. Watson.

     Valhi, Inc. is engaged in the titanium dioxide pigments, component products
(ergonomic computer support systems, precision ball bearing slides and locking
systems), titanium metals products and waste management industries.

                                   * * * * *