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) August 29, 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 August 29, 2003 announcing
                                gain as a result of the settlement of a patent
                                infringement lawsuit by Genlyte Thomas Group
                                LLC.


ITEM 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.

                  On August 29, 2003, Thomas Industries issued a press release
announcing gain as a result of the settlement of a patent infringement lawsuit
by Genlyte Thomas Group LLC. 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:  August 29, 2003