SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


               Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
                              Exchange Act of 1934


                              August 29, 1997
               (Date of Report, date of earliest event reported)


                                  VALHI, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


              Delaware              1-5467               87-0110150
           State or other         (Commission         (IRS Employer
           jurisdiction of        File Number)        Identification
           incorporation)                                  No.)


            5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, TX     75240-2697
            (Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)


                                (972) 233-1700
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



             (Former name or address, if changed since last report)


Item 5: Other Events

        On August 29, 1997, the Registrant issued the press release attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7: Financial Statements,  Pro Forma  Financial Information
        and Exhibits

        (c)  Exhibit

             Item No.         Exhibit Index

             99.1      Press release dated August 29, 1997
                       issued by the Registrant


                                   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.

                                 VALHI, INC.
                                 (Registrant)



                                 By: /s/ Steven L. Watson
                                      Steven L. Watson
                                      Vice President & Secretary


Dated:  August 29, 1997

                                 PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                            CONTACT:

VALHI, INC.                                       STEVEN L. WATSON
THREE LINCOLN CENTRE                              VICE PRESIDENT
5430 LBJ FREEWAY                                  (972) 450-4216
DALLAS, TEXAS 75240-2697
(972) 233-1700



                       VALHI DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND


          DALLAS, TEXAS  .  .  .  August 29, 1997  .  .  .  Valhi, Inc.
     (NYSE:VHI) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a
     regular quarterly dividend of five cents ($0.05) per share on its
     common stock, payable on September 30, 1997 to stockholders of record
     at the close of business on September 12, 1997.


          Valhi, Inc. is engaged in the chemicals, component products,
     waste management and other industries.