8-K

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                       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): JANUARY 7, 1999


                           DAYTON SUPERIOR CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

      OHIO                     1-11781                 31-0676346
(State or other              (Commission             (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of              File Number)           Identification No.)
incorporation)

7777 WASHINGTON VILLAGE DR., SUITE 130, DAYTON, OHIO                 45459
(Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (937) 428-7172

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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Item 5.   Other Events
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         On January 7, 1999, Dayton Superior Corporation issued the press
release attached hereto as Exhibit 20.1.

                                    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.

                                      DAYTON SUPERIOR CORPORATION


January 7, 1999                       By: /s/ JOHN A. CICCARELLI
                                          John A. Ciccarelli
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer







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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit No.                         Description
         -----------                         -----------

            (20)            OTHER DOCUMENTS OR STATEMENTS TO SECURITY HOLDERS

                   20.1     Press Release issued by Dayton Superior Corporation 
                            on January 7, 1999

EX-20.1

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                                                                    Exhibit 20.1



                             [DAYTON SUPERIOR LOGO]

For further information contact:                For Immediate Release:

John A. Ciccarelli                              Dayton Superior Corporation
President and Chief Executive Officer           7777 Washington Village Dr.,
Phone:  (937) 428-7172                          Suite 130 
Fax:  (937) 428-9115                            Dayton, OH  45459



                           JUDGE REDUCES DAMAGES AWARD
                       AGAINST DAYTON SUPERIOR SUBSIDIARY

         DAYTON, Ohio, January 7, 1999 -- Dayton Superior Corporation (NYSE:
DSD) reported today that the previously reported jury verdicts against Dayton
Superior's Symons Corporation subsidiary were reduced by the Judge in the case
to approximately $14 million from approximately $36.4 million to eliminate
duplicate damages. The Judge also reserved judgement on a number of related
matters, including a request by EFCO Corp., the plaintiff in the case, for
additional exemplary damages with respect to a portion of its claims. EFCO Corp.
alleged in the case that Symons engaged in false advertising, misappropriation
of trade secrets, intentional interference with contractual relations and
certain other activities.

         Dayton Superior President and Chief Executive Officer, John A.
Ciccarelli, said: "While we are pleased with the Judge's action, we continue to
believe that there is no merit to these allegations. Notwithstanding the
reduction in the jury verdicts, Dayton Superior remains committed to vigorously
pursuing post-trial motions and appeals. As the Judge noted, this is only
Chapter 1 of a 12 chapter book."

         Dayton Superior Corporation is the largest North American manufacturer
and distributor of metal accessories and forms used in concrete construction and
metal accessories used in masonry construction and has an expanding construction
chemicals business. The Company's products, which are marketed under the
Dayton/Richmond(R), Symons(R), American Highway Technology(R) and Dur-O-Wal(R)
names, among others, are used primarily in two segments of the construction
industry: non-residential buildings and infrastructure construction projects.