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) OCTOBER 24, 2003
                                                        ------------------



                             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
                                                           --------------



                                       N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

                  (c)  Exhibits

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

                                99.1        Press Release dated October 24, 2003
                                            announcing third quarter sales and
                                            earnings.

ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

                  On October 24, 2003, Thomas Industries Inc. issued a press
release announcing third quarter sales and earnings. A copy of the press release
is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated by reference.

                  The information in this Form 8-K is being furnished and shall
not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The
information in this Form 8-K shall not be incorporated by reference in any other
filing under the Securities Exchange Act or Securities Act of 1933 except as
shall be expressly set forth by specific reference to this Form 8-K in such
filing.




                                   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:  October 24, 2003