-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WkTVD+XxjZZ6FkYHrdeBBhyzK3Ci/erZ48gsLQ6p83QTny5txASTDN9sVAs7LGTx
 nVDblc8lx88Bb2lx7slYaA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-008285.txt : 20080425
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-008285.hdr.sgml : 20080425
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080425171154
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-008285
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080423
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080425
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080425

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RETHORE BERNARD G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001159996
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13711
		FILM NUMBER:		08778518

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		480-607-2630

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MCDYRE & SPENDLEY
		STREET 2:		7702 E DOUBLETREE RANCH ROAD SUITE 300
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WALTER INDUSTRIES INC /NEW/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000837173
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BITUMINOUS COAL & LIGNITE MINING [1220]
		IRS NUMBER:				133429953
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4211 W. BOY SCOUT BLVD.
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8138714811

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4211 W. BOY SCOUT BLVD.
		STREET 2:		4211 W. BOY SCOUT BLVD.
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33607

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HILLSBOROUGH HOLDINGS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910814
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000837173</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WALTER INDUSTRIES INC /NEW/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001159996</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RETHORE BERNARD G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7702 E. DOUBLETREE ROAD, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85258</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>70.92</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7770</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-04-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7770</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7770</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest in 3 equal annual installments beginning 04/23/09.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Catherine C. Bona, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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