8-K

                       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
                                December 14, 1999





                             THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)





                                    Delaware
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)



            1-5426                                        61-0505332
   (Commission File Number)                    (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 4360 Brownsboro Road, Suite 300
       Louisville, Kentucky                                 40207
(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

               Registrant's telephone number, including area code
                                  502/893-4600






ITEM 5.  Other Events.

         On  December  14,  1999,  the  Registrant  announced  that it  plans to
repurchase  up to 15% of the  outstanding  shares,  or  2,373,000  shares of its
outstanding Common Stock.. A copy of the press release is filed herewith.


ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)  Exhibits

Exhibit Number             Description
- --------------             -----------

     99.1                  Press release regarding plans to repurchase 2,373,000
                           shares of outstanding Common Stock.





                                   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.

                                 THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC.
                                  (Registrant)

                                 By: /s/ Phillip J. Stuecker
                                    ____________________________________________
                                 Phillip J. Stuecker, Vice President of
                                 Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary

Dated:  December 14, 1999

EX-99.1

                                                                N E W S
                                                                   r e l e a s e

[LOGO]

THOMAS
INDUSTRIES INC.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE
4360 Brownsboro Road, Suite 300
P.O. Box 35120
Louisville, Kentucky 40232-5120
502/893-4600 . Fax:  502/895-6618


     LOUISVILLE,  Kentucky,  December 14, 1999 -- Thomas  Industries Inc. (NYSE:
TII - news)  today  announced  that it plans to  repurchase,  from time to time,
depending on market  conditions and other factors,  up to 15% of the outstanding
shares,  or 2,373,000 shares of its outstanding  Common Stock in the open market
or through privately negotiated transactions at the prevailing market prices. As
of December 13, 1999,  the Company had  15,823,204  shares  outstanding.  Shares
purchased  will be held in the  corporate  treasury and will be used for general
corporate purposes.

     Thomas  Industries  Inc.,  headquartered  in Louisville,  Kentucky,  is the
recognized  leader in the design and manufacture of compressors and vacuum pumps
for use in global OEM applications as well as pneumatic construction  equipment,
leakage detection systems and laboratory equipment.  The Company also owns a 32%
interest  in  Genlyte  Thomas  Group LLC,  the third  largest  lighting  fixture
manufacturer  in North  America.  Thomas has  operations  in the United  States,
Europe and Asia.


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