UNITED STATES

                    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


             Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
                               July 16, 2001


                               AIRGAS, INC.
          ______________________________________________________
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



   Delaware                       1-9344                   56-0732648
_______________            ________________________        _____________
(State or other            (Commission File Number)        (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                                            Identification No.)
incorporation)



                 259 North Radnor-Chester Road, Suite 100
                          Radnor, PA  19087-5283
                 _________________________________________
                 (Address of principal executive offices)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 687-5253
                                                     _____________



Item 5. Other Events.
        ____________

   On July 16, 2001, Airgas, Inc. announced preliminary results for its
first quarter ended June 30, 2001, as described in the press release
attached as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
        __________________________________________________________________

(a)  None

(b)  None

(c)  Exhibits.

     99 Press Release dated July 16, 2001






                                Signatures
                                __________


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            AIRGAS, INC.
                                            (Registrant)


                                       BY: /s/ Gordon L. Keen, Jr.
                                            Gordon L. Keen, Jr.
                                            Senior Vice President - Law &
                                            Corporate Development


DATED:  July 17, 2001