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): October 23, 2002 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 October 23, 2002, Airgas, Inc. reported its earnings for its second quarter and six months ended September 30, 2002, as described in the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits __________________________________________________________________ (a) None (b) None (c) Exhibits. 99.1 - Press Release dated October 23, 2002 Signatures __________ Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant and Co-Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. AIRGAS, INC. AIRGAS EAST, INC. (Registrant) AIRGAS GREAT LAKES, INC. AIRGAS MID AMERICA, INC. AIRGAS NORTH CENTRAL, INC. BY: /s/ Robert M. McLaughlin AIRGAS SOUTH, INC. Robert M. McLaughlin AIRGAS GULF STATES, INC. Vice President & Controller AIRGAS MID SOUTH, INC. AIRGAS INTERMOUNTAIN, INC. AIRGAS NORPAC, INC. AIRGAS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA & NEVADA, INC. AIRGAS SOUTHWEST, INC. AIRGAS WEST, INC. AIRGAS SAFETY, INC. RUTLAND TOOL & SUPPLY CO., INC. AIRGAS CARBONIC, INC. AIRGAS SPECIALTY GASES, INC. NITROUS OXIDE CORP. PURITAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC. RED-D-ARC, INC. AIRGAS REALTY, INC. AIRGAS DATA, LLC ________________________________________ (Co-Registrants) BY: /s/ Robert M. McLaughlin Robert M. McLaughlin Vice President ATNL, INC. ________________________________________ (Co-Registrant) BY: /s/ James S. Ely James S. Ely Vice President and Quality Control Officer DATED: October 24, 2002