SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

           PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:
                                                     
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement                        [ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as
                                                             permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ]  Definitive Proxy Statement

[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials

[X]  Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12




                        National Service Industries, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)



    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):


[X]      No fee required.
[ ]      Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
         0-11.
     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

         ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set for the amount on which the filing fee
is calculated and state how it was determined):

         ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

         ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     (5) Total fee paid:


[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:

[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

     (1) Amount Previously Paid:

     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

     (3) Filing Party:

     (4) Date Filed:







On May 14, 2003, the Registrant issued
the following press release:
                                                                      [NSI LOGO]

PRESS RELEASE
                                                     Investor Relations Contact:
                                                     Chester J. Popkowski (Chet)
                                                          Senior Vice President,

                                          Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
                                                                  (404) 853-1205
                                               Web site: www.nationalservice.com

May 14, 2003


                                       NSI

                                      ----
             NSI ANNOUNCES DATE FOR SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

          EARLY TERMINATION OF HART-SCOTT-RODINO WAITING PERIOD GRANTED

                                      ----

ATLANTA -- National Service Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NSI) today announced that it
has established Tuesday, June 3, 2003 as the date for the special meeting of
NSI's stockholders for the purpose of voting on the previously announced merger
agreement and merger with NS Acquisition Corp., an affiliate of California
Investment Fund, LLC. The record date for the special meeting is April 17, 2003.

         NSI today also announced that the Department of Justice and Federal
Trade Commission have granted early termination of the waiting period under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, in relation to
the merger. Termination of the waiting period was one of the conditions to
consummation of the proposed merger.

         Pursuant to the merger agreement, each outstanding share of NSI common
stock will be converted into the right to receive $10.00 in cash. The closing of
the transaction is subject to the approval of the NSI stockholders at the
special meeting, the receipt of certain financing, and other customary
conditions. The definitive proxy statement contains important information
regarding these conditions and the transaction in general.

         In connection with NSI's solicitation of proxies with respect to its
special meeting of stockholders concerning the proposed merger, NSI has filed a
definitive proxy statement, dated May 14, 2003, with the SEC and has commenced
furnishing NSI stockholders with a free copy of the definitive proxy statement.
NSI stockholders will be able to obtain a free copy of other relevant documents
filed with the SEC from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. NSI


stockholders may also obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement and
other documents (as and when available) by directing a request by mail or
telephone to National Service Industries, Inc., Suite 200, 1420 Peachtree
Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, Attention: Investor Relations, Telephone: (404)
853-1228.

         AS IN ALL PROXY MATTERS, THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT SHOULD BE READ
CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A DECISION CONCERNING THE MERGER. NSI STOCKHOLDERS ARE
URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

         NSI and its directors may be deemed to be "participants" in the
solicitation of proxies from NSI stockholders in favor of the merger agreement.
Information regarding the persons who may be considered "participants" in the
solicitation of proxies is set forth in the definitive proxy statement
referenced above.

                                      * * *

         National Service Industries, Inc., with fiscal year 2002 sales of $530
million, has two business segments -- textile rental and envelopes.

                                      * * *

         Certain information contained in this press release constitutes
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are inherently
uncertain and involve risks. Statements that are not historical facts, including
statements about management's estimates, beliefs and expectations, are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and
are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based on management's
beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on currently available
information. Important assumptions relating to the forward-looking statements
include, among others, the timely satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
the merger agreement, including the receipt of all necessary financing to
complete the merger. These assumptions could prove inaccurate. Forward-looking
statements also involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement. Many of these factors are beyond NSI's ability to control or predict.
Such factors include, but are not limited to, delays in the receipt of necessary
financing and third party and governmental consents to complete the merger. NSI
does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or
otherwise.

                                      * * *