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                       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

                                January 10, 2003
                   ------------------------------------------
                     Date of Report (Date of earliest event
                                    reported)

                         Oil-Dri Corporation of America
                   ------------------------------------------
                     (Exact name of registrant as specified
                                 in its charter)

             Delaware                  0-8675             36-2048898
     -----------------------     -----------------     ----------------
         (State or other            (Commission          (IRS Employer
         jurisdiction of            File Number)        Identification
          incorporation)                                     No.)

              410 North Michigan Avenue
                      Suite 400
                  Chicago, Illinois               60611-4213
             -----------------------------       ------------
                (Address of principal             (Zip Code)
                  executive offices)

                                 (312) 321-1515
                   ------------------------------------------
                          Registrant's telephone number

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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

      On January 10, 2003, the Registrant issued a press release announcing
its intention to begin repurchases of shares of its Common Stock.  A copy of
the press release is attached as Exhibit 99, and is incorporated herein by
this reference.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)   Exhibits:  The following documents are attached as exhibits to this
report:

Exhibit
NUMBER          DESCRIPTION

99              Press Release, dated January 10, 2003

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                                  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.

                          OIL-DRI CORPORATION OF AMERICA

                          By: /S/  CHARLES P. BRISSMAN
                              --------------------------------
                              Charles P. Brissman
                              Vice President and General Counsel

Date:  January 13, 2002

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RELEASE:                                            CONTACT:
Immediate                                           Ronda Williams
                                                    312-706-3232

                  OIL-DRI ANNOUNCES PLAN TO REPURCHASE STOCK

CHICAGO-January 10, 2003 - Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE: ODC)
announced today that it intends to repurchase shares of its common stock
under previous authorizations approved by its Board of Directors.  Under
these authorizations, there are 446,610 remaining shares.  The company last
repurchased shares under these authorizations in December 1999.

Daniel S. Jaffee, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "Market
conditions and our strong cash position allow us to restart our share
repurchases as a good investment in our future.  We will make these purchases
periodically, taking into account applicable regulations, market conditions
and our future expansion opportunities."

                                      ###

OIL-DRI CORPORATION OF AMERICA IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF CAT
LITTER AND A LEADING SUPPLIER OF SPECIALTY SORBENT PRODUCTS FOR INDUSTRIAL,
AUTOMOTIVE, AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL AND SPECIALTY MARKETS.

THIS RELEASE CONTAINS CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS REGARDING THE
COMPANY'S EXPECTED PERFORMANCE FOR FUTURE PERIODS, AND ACTUAL RESULTS FOR SUCH
PERIODS MIGHT MATERIALLY DIFFER.  SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE SUBJECT
TO UNCERTAINTIES WHICH INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, COMPETITIVE FACTORS
IN THE CONSUMER MARKET; THE LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF PRICE
INCREASES AND SURCHARGES; CHANGES IN OVERALL AGRICULTURAL DEMAND; CHANGES IN
THE MARKET CONDITIONS, THE OVERALL ECONOMY, ENERGY PRICES, AND OTHER FACTORS
DETAILED FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT AND OTHER REPORTS
FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

                                                                    News Release

             Release:Immediate                        Contact: Ronda J Williams
                                                               312-706-3232

                        Oil-Dri Announces Plan to Repurchase Stock

             CHICAGO--January 10, 2003 - Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE:
             ODC) announced today that it intends to repurchase shares of its
             common stock under previous authorizations approved by its Board of
             Directors. Under these authorizations, there are 446,610 remaining
             shares. The company last repurchased shares under these
             authorizations in December 1999.

             Daniel S. Jaffee, President and Chief Executive Officer commented,
             "Market conditions and our strong cash position allow us to restart
             our share repurchases as a good investment in our future. We will
             make these purchases periodically, taking into account applicable
             regulations, market conditions and our future expansion
             opportunities."

                                            ###

             ===================================================================

             Oil-Dri Corporation of America is the world's largest manufacturer
             of cat litter and a leading supplier of specialty sorbent products
             for industrial, automotive, agricultural, horticultural and
             specialty markets.

             This release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding
             the company's expected performance for future periods, and actual
             results for such periods might materially differ. Such
             forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties which
             include, but are not limited to, competitive factors in the
             consumer market; the level of success in implementation of price
             increases and surcharges; changes in overall agricultural demand;
             changes in the market conditions, the overall economy, energy
             prices, and other factors detailed from time to time in the
             company's annual report and other reports filed with the Securities
             and Exchange Commission.