Dennis G. Newkirk
                                                                  (281) 423-3332

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                        NL REPORTS THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
                 AND REDEMPTION OF SENIOR SECURED DISCOUNT NOTES

HOUSTON,  TEXAS -- October 19, 1998 -- NL Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:NL)  reported
income  from  continuing  operations  for the  third  quarter  of 1998 of  $31.4
million,  or  $.60  per  diluted  share,  compared  to  income  from  continuing
operations  in the third  quarter of 1997 of $3.9  million,  or $.08 per diluted
share. NL reported  income from continuing  operations for the first nine months
of 1998 of $71.1 million,  or $1.37 per diluted  share,  compared to a loss from
continuing operations in the first nine months of 1997 of $39.7 million, or $.78
per diluted  share.  Net income for the third quarter of 1998 was $29.0 million,
or $.55 per diluted  share,  compared to net income in the third quarter of 1997
of $9.8  million,  or $.19  per  diluted  share.  The  1997  results  include  a
first-quarter $30 million noncash charge, or $.59 per diluted share,  related to
the  adoption of the AICPA's  Statement  of Position  No.  96-1,  "Environmental
Remediation Liabilities."

Operating income of Kronos' titanium dioxide pigments  ("TiO2")  business in the
third  quarter  of 1998 was $45.0  million,  $29.8  million  more than the third
quarter  of 1997  excluding  $9.7  million  of  income  from  refunds  of German
franchise  taxes  reported  in the  third  quarter  of  1997.  Kronos'  improved
operating income was due to higher TiO2 selling prices partially offset by lower
sales volume.  Kronos' average TiO2 selling prices for the third quarter of 1998
were 17% higher  than the third  quarter  of 1997 and 2% higher  than the second
quarter of 1998. Kronos' third-quarter sales volume decreased 9% from the record
sales volume in the year-earlier period as demand moderated. Sales volume in the
first nine  months of 1998 was 2% lower than the 1997  period  reflecting  lower
sales volume in Asia, partially offset by higher sales volume in Europe.

Income taxes in the third  quarter of 1998 include a tax benefit of $8.2 million
($.16 per diluted share)  resulting from a refund of prior-year  German dividend
withholding taxes.

As previously reported, the Company sold its Rheox specialty chemical operations
in the first quarter of 1998 and, as a result of the sale,  Rheox's  results are
reported as  discontinued  operations.  The $2.4 million  extraordinary  item in
third  quarter 1998 resulted  from early  extinguishment  of debt related to $54
million of open-market  purchases of the Company's 13% Senior  Secured  Discount
Notes. The remaining $121 million of Discount Notes were redeemed on October 15,
1998.  The Company's net debt at September 30, 1998 was $204 million (total debt
of $524 million less cash of $320 million), declining from $652 million net debt
at December 31, 1997.

<PAGE>

J.  Landis  Martin,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer,  stated,  "Kronos
continued  to post  impressive  results in the third  quarter  with  higher TiO2
prices and good capacity utilization  overcoming a decline in third-quarter TiO2
demand.  We expect TiO2 demand in the fourth  quarter of 1998 will be moderately
below  that of the fourth  quarter  of 1997,  but that  income  from  continuing
operations in the fourth  quarter of 1998 should benefit from lower net interest
expense due to the redemption of our 13% Discount Notes on October 15, 1998. The
redemption of the 13% Discount  Notes  represents the attainment of an important
strategic goal and further strengthens NL's balance sheet, capital structure and
future cash flow."

A conference call for the investment community is scheduled for October 19, 1998
at 12:15 p.m.,  Eastern  Daylight Time. Dr. Lawrence A. Wigdor,  Chief Executive
Officer  at  Kronos,  will host the call.  Participants  can  access the call by
dialing  1-800-553-0327  (domestic) and  612-332-0634  (international).  A taped
replay of the call will be available after 4:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, the
day of the call through November 19, 1998 by calling  1-800-475-6701  (domestic)
and 320-365-3844 (international), and using access code 411349.

NL  Industries,  Inc. is a major  international  producer  of  titanium  dioxide
pigments.

The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts
are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties,  including,
but not limited to, future global economic and political conditions, global TiO2
production  capacity and the amount and timing of capacity changes,  competitive
products and prices, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  filings.   Actual  results  could  differ
materially from those forecasted or expected.


<PAGE>



                               NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                      (In millions, except per share data)
                                   (Unaudited)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Quarters ended    Nine months ended
                                              September 30,        September 30,
                                           ------------------  -----------------
                                             1997      1998      1997       1998
                                           --------  --------  --------  --------
<S>                                        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>     
Revenues and other income:
  Net sales ............................   $  210.3  $  221.5  $  629.1  $  685.8
  Other income, excluding corporate ....        2.3       2.0       9.5       4.7
                                           --------  --------  --------  --------

                                              212.6     223.5     638.6     690.5

Cost of sales ..........................      162.5     151.8     502.4     476.0
Selling, general and administrative,
 excluding corporate ...................       25.2      26.7      85.8      85.8
                                           --------  --------  --------  --------

    Operating income ...................       24.9      45.0      50.4     131.1

Corporate income (expense):
  Securities earnings ..................         .6       4.3       1.8      12.7
  Expenses, net ........................       (5.7)     (4.1)    (44.3)    (11.6)
  Interest expense .....................      (16.4)    (15.1)    (49.2)    (46.9)
                                           --------  --------  --------  --------

    Income (loss) from continuing
     operations before income taxes ....        3.4      30.1     (41.3)     85.3

Income tax benefit (expense) ...........         .5       1.3       1.6     (14.2)
                                           --------  --------  --------  --------

    Income (loss) from continuing
     operations ........................        3.9      31.4     (39.7      71.1

Discontinued operations - Rheox ........        5.9       --       16.0     287.4
Extraordinary item .....................        --       (2.4)      --       (4.8)
                                           --------  --------  --------  --------

    Net income (loss) ..................   $    9.8  $   29.0  $  (23.7) $  353.7
                                           --------  --------  --------  --------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                               NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
             CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, Continued

                      (In millions, except per share data)
                                   (Unaudited)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Quarters ended     Nine months ended
                                             September 30,       September 30,
                                          ------------------  -----------------
                                            1997      1998      1997      1998
                                          --------  --------  -------   -------
<S>                                         <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>   
Basic earnings per common share:
  Continuing operations .................   $  .08   $  .61    $ (.78)   $ 1.38
  Discontinued operations ...............      .11     --         .32      5.60
  Extraordinary item ....................     --       (.05)     --        (.09)
                                           --------  --------  --------  ------
  Net income (loss) .....................   $  .19   $  .56    $ (.46)   $ 6.89
                                            ======   ======    ======    ======


Diluted earnings per common share:
  Continuing operations .................   $  .08   $  .60    $ (.78)   $ 1.37
  Discontinued operations ...............      .11     --         .32      5.52
  Extraordinary item ....................     --       (.05)     --        (.09)
                                           --------  --------  --------  -------

  Net income (loss) .....................   $  .19   $  .55    $ (.46)   $ 6.80
                                            ======   ======    ======    ======



Shares used in the calculation of
 earnings per share:
  Basic shares ..........................     51.1     51.4      51.1      51.4
  Dilutive impact of stock options ......       .5       .8      --          .6
                                           --------  --------  --------  -------
  Diluted shares ........................     51.6     52.2      51.1      52.0
                                            ======   ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>