8-K

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                      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


              Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): 
                               January 28, 1997


                                 AIRGAS, INC.
             ______________________________________________________
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



   Delaware                1-9344               56-0732648  
_______________    _______________________    _____________
(State or other    (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                                Identification
incorporation)                                 No.)



                      100 Matsonford Road, Suite 550
                            Radnor, PA  19087           
                    _______________________________________
                    (Address of principal executive offices)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 687-5253
                                                    _______________














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Item 5. Other Events.
        ____________

On January 28, 1997, Airgas, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release
announcing it named Thomas C. Deas, Jr., Chief Financial Officer, effective
February 24, 1997.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
         __________________________________________________________________

(a)  None

(b)  None

(c)  Exhibits.

     99  Press Release dated January 28, 1997








































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                                  Signatures
                                  __________


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                         AIRGAS, INC.




                    BY:  /s/ Jeffrey P. Cornwell
                         _______________________
                         (Jeffrey P. Cornwell)
                         Vice President - Finance and
                         Corporate Controller


DATED:     February 5, 1997

EX-99

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                                        For more information:
                                        James N. Borum
                                        Jeffrey P. Cornwell
                                         (610) 687-5253


AIRGAS, INC. NAMES THOMAS C. DEAS, JR. CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER

     RADNOR, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1997--Airgas, Inc. (NYSE-ARG),
today announced it has named Thomas C. Deas, Jr., Chief Financial Officer,
effective February 24, 1997.
     
     Mr. Deas, 46, joins Airgas after serving Scott Paper Company for 18 years
in various financial and strategic management positions.  From 1988 to 1996,
he was vice president, treasury and assistant treasurer at Scott.  Most
recently, he served as chief financial officer at Maritrans Inc., a New York
Stock Exchange-listed shipping company in the Philadelphia area.
     
     "Tom brings to Airgas broad financial and strategic knowledge which will
be of enormous value as we move forward with our growth plans," said Peter
McCausland, chief executive officer of Airgas.  "He has considerable
experience in transactional situations and strong management skills.  We are
delighted that he will be part of the Airgas team."
     
     A native of the Philadelphia area, Mr. Deas received an M.B.A. from the
Wharton School and a B.S. in physics from the University of South Carolina. 
He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1972 to 1976.
     
     Airgas, Inc. is the largest distributor of industrial, medical and
specialty gases and related equipment in North America.  Its distributor
network includes over 570 locations in 41 states, Mexico and Canada.  Airgas
can be visited via the Internet at htpp://www.airgas.com.