CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORP
DEF 14A, 1998-06-09
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by Registrant [X] 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:

[ ]     Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]     Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by 
         Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]     Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]     Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]     Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-11(c) or ss.240.14a-12

                          Capital Southwest Corporation
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]    No fee required.
[ ]    Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14-a6(i)(4) and 0-11.

       1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

            --------------------------------------------------------------------
       2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

            --------------------------------------------------------------------

       3)   Per unit price or other  underlying  value of  transaction  computed
            pursuant  to Exchange  Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the  amount on which
            the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

            --------------------------------------------------------------------
       4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:


            --------------------------------------------------------------------
       5)   Total fee paid:

            --------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ]    Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ]    Check box if any part of the  fee is offset as  provided by Exchange  Act
       Rule  0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
       paid previously.  Identify the previous filing  by registration statement
       number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

       1)   Amount Previously Paid:

            --------------------------------------------------------------------
       2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

            --------------------------------------------------------------------
       3)   Filing Party:

            --------------------------------------------------------------------
       4)   Date Filed:

            --------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>


                                                                   June 10, 1998



To the Shareholders of Capital Southwest Corporation:

         The Annual Meeting of Shareholders  of our Corporation  will be held on
Monday, July 20, 1998, at 10:00 a.m. in the North Dallas Bank Tower Meeting Room
(First Floor), 12900 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas.

         A  Notice  of  the  Annual  Meeting,  a  Proxy  and a  Proxy  Statement
containing information about matters to be acted upon are enclosed. In addition,
the Capital Southwest  Corporation Annual Report for the fiscal year ended March
31, 1998 is enclosed to provide  information  regarding the  performance  of the
Corporation  during the past year.  Holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote
on the basis of one vote for each share held. If you attend the Annual  Meeting,
you retain the right to vote in person  even  though you  previously  mailed the
enclosed Proxy.

         It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting  whether
or not you are personally in attendance.  Please review the Proxy  Statement and
sign,  date and return the enclosed Proxy at your earliest  convenience.  I look
forward to meeting  with you and,  together  with our  directors  and  officers,
discussing the Corporation's business. I hope you will be present.

                                                           Very truly yours,



                                                           William R. Thomas
                                                           Chairman of the Board
                                                           and President




<PAGE>


                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD JULY 20, 1998

To the Shareholders of Capital Southwest Corporation:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual  Meeting of the  Shareholders  of Capital
Southwest Corporation, a Texas corporation (the "Corporation"),  will be held on
Monday,  July 20, 1998,  at 10:00 a.m.,  Dallas time, in the Meeting Room (First
Floor) of the North Dallas Bank Tower,  12900 Preston Road,  Dallas,  Texas, for
the following purposes:

1.   To  elect  five  directors  to  serve  until  the next  Annual  Meeting  of
     Shareholders  or until  their  respective  successors  shall be elected and
     qualified;

2.   To approve the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as independent auditors
     for the Corporation;

3.   To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and
     any adjournment thereof.

Only  holders  of  Common  Stock of the  Corporation  of  record at the close of
business  on June 1, 1998 will be  entitled  to notice  of,  and to vote at, the
meeting and any adjournment thereof.

If you do not  expect to attend in  person,  please  sign,  date and  return the
enclosed proxy.

                                              By Order of the Board of Directors
                                              TIM SMITH
                                              Secretary
Dallas, Texas
June 10, 1998


<PAGE>

  
                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                       FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD JULY 20, 1998

         This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation
by the Board of Directors of Capital Southwest Corporation,  a Texas corporation
(the  "Corporation"),   of  proxies  to  be  voted  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders to be held on July 20, 1998 or any adjournment thereof. The date on
which this Proxy  Statement  and the enclosed form of proxy are first being sent
or given to shareholders of the Corporation is on or about June 10, 1998.

                             PURPOSES OF THE MEETING

         The Annual Meeting of the  Shareholders  is to be held for the purposes
of (1) electing five persons to serve as directors of the Corporation  until the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders,  or until their respective successors shall
be elected  and  qualified  (see  ELECTION  OF  DIRECTORS);  (2)  approving  the
appointment  by the Board of Directors  of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as  independent
auditors  for the  Corporation  (see  APPROVAL  OF  APPOINTMENT  OF  INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS);  and (3) transacting  such other business as may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

         To be elected a director,  each nominee must receive the favorable vote
of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock  entitled to vote and
represented at the Annual  Meeting.  In order to ratify the  appointment of KPMG
Peat Marwick LLP as independent auditors for the Corporation for the year ending
March 31, 1999, the  ratification  proposal must receive the favorable vote of a
majority of the shares of Common Stock  entitled to vote and  represented at the
Annual Meeting.


         The Board of Directors  unanimously  recommends  that the  shareholders
vote FOR the  election  as  directors  of the persons  named  under  ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS  and FOR the approval of the  appointment  of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as
independent auditors.
                              VOTING AT THE MEETING

         The record date for holders of Common Stock  entitled to notice of, and
to vote at, the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders is the close of business on June
1, 1998, at which time the  Corporation  had outstanding and entitled to vote at
the meeting 3,787,951 shares of Common Stock.



                                       1

<PAGE>

         The  presence,  in person or by proxy,  of the holders of a majority of
the  shares of Common  Stock  outstanding  and  entitled  to vote at the  Annual
Meeting is  necessary  to  constitute a quorum.  In deciding  all  questions,  a
shareholder shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share
of Common  Stock held in his name at the close of business  on the record  date.
Shareholders who are present,  in person or by proxy, but abstain from voting on
any item will be counted as present at the  meeting,  but not voting on any such
item. Similarly, nominees (such as broker-dealers) who are present, in person or
by proxy,  but abstain or refrain  from  voting on any item,  will be counted as
present at the meeting, but not voting on any such item.

         Each  proxy  delivered  to  the  Corporation,  unless  the  shareholder
otherwise specifies therein,  will be voted FOR the election as directors of the
persons named under  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS  (PROPOSAL 1) and FOR the approval of
the  appointment  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  KPMG  Peat  Marwick  LLP as
independent  auditors  (PROPOSAL  2). In each case  where  the  shareholder  has
appropriately  specified  how the  proxy  is to be  voted,  it will be  voted in
accordance with his specification.  As to any other matter or business which may
be brought before the meeting,  a vote may be cast pursuant to the  accompanying
proxy in accordance  with the judgment of the person or persons voting the same,
but neither  management nor the Board of Directors of the  Corporation  knows of
any such other matter or business.  Any  shareholder has the power to revoke his
proxy at any time insofar as it is then not  exercised by giving  notice of such
revocation, either personally or in writing, to the Secretary of the Corporation
or by the  execution  and  delivery  to the  Corporation  of a new  proxy  dated
subsequent to the original proxy.


                  STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

         The following table sets forth certain  information with respect to the
beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Corporation as of May 1, 1998 by (1)
each person, so far as is known to the management of the Corporation, who is the
beneficial  owner (as that term is defined in the rules and  regulations  of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission) of more than 5% of the  outstanding  Common
Stock, (2) each executive officer listed in the Summary  Compensation Table, and
(3) all directors and executive officers of the Corporation as a group.

<TABLE>

          Name and Address                          Shares Owned                 Percent
         of Beneficial Owner                        Beneficially                 of Class
         -------------------                        ------------                 --------
<S>                                                                              <C>     

         William R. Thomas
         12900 Preston Rd., Suite 700
         Dallas, Texas 75230.........................    1,026,286  (1)(2)        27.1%

         J. Bruce Duty
         12900 Preston Rd., Suite 700
         Dallas, Texas 75230.........................      492,404  (2)(3)        13.0


                                       2




<PAGE>


          Name and Address                          Shares Owned                 Percent
         of Beneficial Owner                        Beneficially                 of Class
         -------------------                        ------------                 --------
         U.S. Trust Corporation
         114 West 47th Street
         New York, New York 10036....................      220,210  (4)            5.8

         Harris Associates L.P.
         Two North LaSalle Street
         Chicago, IL  60602..........................      192,416  (5)            5.1

         Gary L. Martin
         930 Whitmore Dr.
         Rockwall, Texas 75087.......................      157,947  (2)(3)         4.2

         Tim Smith...................................      108,644  (2)(3)         2.9

         Patrick F. Hamner...........................       34,704  (3)            0.9

         All directors and executive officers
         as a group (9 persons)......................    1,252,320  (6)           32.6

</TABLE>

         (1) Mr.  Thomas has sole voting and  investment  power with  respect to
328,425 shares,  and shared voting and investment  power with respect to 254,733
shares which include  48,208  shares owned by two of his  children,  as to which
shares he disclaims  beneficial  ownership,  and 206,525  shares owned by Thomas
Heritage  Partners,  Ltd., in which Mr.  Thomas has a 50.7% limited  partnership
interest.  Mr.  Thomas holds a majority  interest in and is  President  and sole
manager of Thomas  Heritage  Company,  LLC, the sole  general  partner of Thomas
Heritage Partners, Ltd.

         (2) Messrs.  Duty and Thomas  constitute  a majority of the trustees of
certain trusts  pursuant to employee stock  ownership plans for employees of the
Corporation and its wholly-owned  subsidiaries  owning 354,984 shares,  with the
power as trustees to vote such shares.  Messrs. Duty and Thomas also participate
in the power to direct the  trustees in the voting of 88,144  shares  owned by a
trust  pursuant to a pension plan for employees of the  Corporation  and certain
wholly-owned  subsidiaries of the  Corporation.  Accordingly,  Messrs.  Duty and
Thomas  have  shared  voting and  investment  power with  respect to the 443,128
shares,  representing  11.7% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation,
owned by the  aforementioned  trusts.  Under the rules  and  regulations  of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Messrs. Duty and Thomas are both deemed to
be the beneficial owners of such 443,128 shares which are included in the shares
beneficially owned by Messrs. Duty and Thomas.


                                       3





<PAGE>


         Mr. Martin serves as trustee,  with Messrs.  Duty and Thomas, of one of
the aforementioned  trusts owning 55,693 shares. Under the rules and regulations
of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  Mr.  Martin  is deemed to be the
beneficial  owner  of such  55,693  shares  which  are  included  in the  shares
beneficially owned by Mr. Martin.

         Of the shares owned by trusts pursuant to the  aforementioned  employee
stock  ownership  plans,  16,380 and 3,667 were  allocated  to Messrs.  Duty and
Martin, respectively, all of which were vested.

         Mr. Smith, with  Messrs. Duty and Thomas,  participates in the power to
direct the trustees in the voting of 88,144 shares owned by a trust  pursuant to
a  pension  plan for  employees  of the  Corporation  and  certain  wholly-owned
subsidiaries  of  the  Corporation.  Under  the  rules  and  regulations  of the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  Mr. Smith is deemed to be the  beneficial
owner of such 88,144 shares which are included in the shares  beneficially owned
by Mr. Smith.

         (3)  Includes  11,200,  9,985,  8,600,  and  9,640  shares  subject  to
immediately  exercisable stock options held by Messrs.  Duty, Martin,  Smith and
Hamner, respectively.

         (4) As reported to the  Corporation  by U.S.  Trust  Corporation,  that
corporation has shared dispositive power and shared voting power with respect to
220,210  shares  via  either  a  trust/fiduciary  capacity  and/or  a  portfolio
management/agency relationship with the persons who own the shares.

         (5) As reported to the  Corporation  by Harris  Associates  L.P.,  that
partnership has sole  dispositive  power with respect to 104,316 shares,  shared
dispositive  power with  respect to 88,100  shares and shared  voting power with
respect to 192,416  shares by reasons of advisory and other  relationships  with
the persons who own the shares.

         (6)  Includes  (i) the  shares  owned  by the  trusts  and  partnership
referred to in Notes (1) and (2), respectively,  to the above table, (ii) 49,725
shares  subject  to  immediately  exercisable  stock  options  (including  those
referred  to in Note (3) to the  above  table),  (iii)  1,500  shares  held in a
retirement  trust for the  benefit of a  director  of the  Corporation  and (iv)
48,208  shares  owned by  immediate  family  members of Mr.  Thomas (as to which
shares he  disclaims  beneficial  ownership).  If the 19,375  shares  subject to
unexercisable  stock options became  exercisable  pursuant to terms of the stock
option  plan  related  to  a  "change  in  control"  of  the  Corporation   (see
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS - Incentive Stock Option Plan),
all  executive  officers and  directors as a group would,  upon exercise of such
options,  beneficially  own  33.0%  of  the  outstanding  Common  Stock  of  the
Corporation.




                                       4




<PAGE>


                       ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (PROPOSAL 1)

         Five directors are proposed to be elected at the meeting to serve until
the next Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  or until their  respective  successors
shall be elected and qualified.  The persons named in the  accompanying  form of
proxy intend to vote such proxy for the election of the nominees  named below as
directors  of the  Corporation  to  serve  until  the  next  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders  or  until  their  respective   successors  shall  be  elected  and
qualified,  unless  otherwise  properly  indicated on such proxy. If any nominee
shall become  unavailable for any reason,  the persons named in the accompanying
form of proxy  are  expected  to  consult  with the  Board of  Directors  of the
Corporation in voting the shares represented by them at the Annual Meeting.  The
Board of  Directors  has no  reason  to  doubt  the  availability  of any of the
nominees  and no reason to believe  that any of the  nominees  will be unable or
unwilling to serve the entire term for which election is sought.

         The names of the nominees,  along with certain  information  concerning
them, are set forth below.

GRAEME W. HENDERSON

         Mr.  Henderson,  age 64, has been a director of  the Corporation  since
1976 and previously  served as a director of the Corporation  from 1962 to 1964.
Mr.  Henderson has been  self-employed  as a private investor and consultant for
more than five years. Mr. Henderson also serves as a director of Starwood Hotels
and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

*GARY L. MARTIN

         Mr. Martin,  age 51, has been a director of the Corporation  since July
1988 and has served as Vice  President of the  Corporation  since July 1984.  He
previously  served as Vice President of the Corporation from 1978 to 1980. Since
1980, Mr. Martin has served as President of The Whitmore  Manufacturing Company,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

JAMES M. NOLAN

         Mr. Nolan,  age 64, has been a director of the  Corporation  since July
1980.  He has been  self-employed  as a private  investor and  consultant to the
telecommunications  industry  since  1978.  He  served  as  a  director  of  DSC
Communications Corporation from 1981 to 1996.

*WILLIAM R. THOMAS

         Mr.  Thomas,  age 69, has served as  Chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Corporation  since July 1982 and President of the Corporation since 1980.
In  addition,  he has been a  director  of the  Corporation  since  1972 and was
previously  Senior Vice  President  of the  Corporation  from 1969 to 1980.  Mr.
Thomas also serves as a director  of Alamo Group Inc.,  Encore Wire  Corporation
and Palm Harbor Homes, Inc.


                                       5



<PAGE>



JOHN H. WILSON

         Mr. Wilson,  age 55, has been a director of the Corporation  since July
1988.  He has been  President  of U. S. Equity  Corporation,  a venture  capital
investment firm, since 1983 and President of Whitehall  Corporation  since 1995.
Mr.  Wilson  also  serves  as  a  director  of  Whitehall  Corporation,  Norwood
Promotional Products, Inc., Encore Wire Corporation and Palm Harbor Homes, Inc.

         The following table sets forth the name of each nominee for election to
the Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation  and the amount and  percentage  of
Common Stock of the Corporation  beneficially  owned (as that term is defined in
the rules and  regulations of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission) by each
nominee as of May 1, 1998.

<TABLE>
                                                        Shares Owned                 Percent
               Name of Nominee                         Beneficially(1)              of Class
               ---------------                         ---------------              --------

<S>                                                                                   <C>     

   Graeme W. Henderson.................................       4,700  (2)              <1%
 * Gary L. Martin .....................................     157,947  (3)               4.2%
   James M. Nolan......................................       2,500                   <1%
 * William R. Thomas ..................................   1,026,286  (4)              27.1%
   John H. Wilson......................................       1,000                   <1%


</TABLE>

 *   Messrs.  Martin and Thomas are "interested persons" as that term is defined
     in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(1)  Unless otherwise  indicated  below,  each of the persons named in the above
     table has sole  voting  and  investment  power  with  respect to the shares
     indicated to be beneficially owned.

(2)  Includes  1,500  shares held by a  retirement  trust for the benefit of Mr.
     Henderson.

(3)  Includes  55,693  shares  owned  on May 1, 1998  by a trust  pursuant to an
     employee stock  ownership plan for employees of The Whitmore  Manufacturing
     Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation. Mr. Martin is deemed
     the  beneficial  owner of the  55,693  shares,  and has  shared  voting and
     investment  power with  respect to such  shares.  See Note (2) of the table
     under STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN  BENEFICIAL  OWNERS for information  about
     such trust and beneficial ownership.  Also includes 9,985 shares subject to
     exercisable stock options held by Mr. Martin.

(4)  Includes  443,128 shares owned on May 1, 1998 by certain trusts pursuant to
     benefit  plans  for  employees  of the  Corporation  and  its  wholly-owned
     subsidiaries.  Mr.  Thomas is deemed the  beneficial  owner of the  443,128
     shares,  and has shared  voting and  investment  power with respect to such
     shares.  See  Note  (2) of the  table  under  STOCK  OWNERSHIP  OF  CERTAIN
     BENEFICIAL OWNERS for information about such trusts and beneficial




                                       6



<PAGE>


     ownership.  Mr. Thomas has sole voting and investment power with respect to
     328,425  shares,  and shared  voting and  investment  power with respect to
     254,733  shares  which  include  48,208  shares  owned by his  children and
     206,525 shares owned by Thomas Heritage Partners, Ltd., in which Mr. Thomas
     has a 50.7%  limited  partnership  interest.  Mr.  Thomas  holds a majority
     interest in and is President and sole manager of Thomas  Heritage  Company,
     LLC, the sole general partner of Thomas Heritage Partners, Ltd.

          COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT

         Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,
requires  officers and directors of the Corporation and persons who beneficially
own more than ten percent of the  Corporation's  common stock to file reports of
securities  ownership  and changes in such  ownership  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  (the  "SEC").  Officers,  directors  and greater  than ten
percent  beneficial  owners also are required by rules promulgated by the SEC to
furnish the Corporation  with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based
solely upon a review of the copies of such forms  furnished to the  Corporation,
or written representations that no Form 5 filings were required, the Corporation
believes  that each of its  officers,  directors  and  greater  than ten percent
beneficial owners complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable
to them during the year ended March 31, 1998.

                MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         The Board of  Directors of the  Corporation  has  established  an Audit
Committee and a  Compensation  Committee to assist the Board in carrying out its
duties.  The Audit  Committee  monitors  the  Company's  financial  reports  and
accounting  practices to  ascertain  that they are within  acceptable  limits of
sound  practice;  reviews audit reports  submitted by the Company's  independent
auditors;  makes  recommendations  to  the  Board  of  Directors  regarding  the
engagement  of the  independent  auditors  for  audit  and  non-audit  services;
evaluates the  independence  of the auditors;  and reviews with the  independent
auditors  the fee,  scope  and  timing  of audit  and  non-audit  services.  The
Compensation Committee  periodically reviews the compensation,  employee benefit
plans and other fringe  benefits  paid to or provided for officers and directors
of the  Corporation  and approves the annual salaries and bonuses of officers of
the Corporation. The Corporation does not have a Nominating Committee.

         Messrs.  Graeme W.  Henderson,  James M.  Nolan and John H.  Wilson are
presently  members  of both the Audit and  Compensation  Committees.  During the
fiscal year of the Corporation  ended March 31, 1998, seven meetings  (including
one telephone  meeting) of the Board of Directors were held. In addition,  three
meetings  (including two telephone  meetings) of the Compensation  Committee and
two meetings of the Audit Committee were held. Each of the directors attended at
least 75 percent of the  aggregate  of (1) the total  number of  meetings of the
Board of Directors and (2) the total number of meetings  held by all  committees
on which he served.




                                       7



<PAGE>


                                PERFORMANCE GRAPH

         The  following  graph  compares  the  Corporation's   cumulative  total
stockholder  return during the last five years (based on the market price of the
common  stock and  assuming  reinvestment  of all  dividends  and tax credits on
retained  long-term  capital  gains) with the Total  Return Index for the Nasdaq
Stock  Market  (U.S.  Companies)  and with the Total  Return  Index  for  Nasdaq
Financial  Stocks,  both of which  indices have been  prepared by the Center for
Research in Security Prices at the University of Chicago.





                Comparison of Five Year Cumulative Total Returns


Graph Omitted.

<TABLE>


       Nasdaq Total Return (U.S.)       Nasdaq Financial Stocks      Capital Southwest Corporation

<S>                                                                                <C>     

       1993            100                         100                             100

       1994            107.456                     104.154                         106.123

       1995            119.536                     116.67                          107.514

       1996            162.301                     160.696                         182.186

       1997            180.392                     206.607                         212.793

       1998            229.094                     320.465                         302.989


</TABLE>






                                       8



<PAGE>



                COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Compensation of Directors

         In addition to reimbursement of travel expenses for attendance at board
meetings,  a director  who is not an  employee  of the  Corporation  receives an
annual  fee of $16,000  for  service  as a  director  and $6,000 for  service as
chairman of a committee of the Board of Directors.  In addition,  a director who
is not an  employee  of the  Corporation  receives  $1,000  for each  directors'
meeting  (excluding  telephone  meetings)  and $500 for each  committee  meeting
attended,  subject to a maximum of $6,000 per year in  aggregate  meeting  fees.
Directors' meetings are normally held on a quarterly basis.

Report of the Compensation Committee

The goals of the Corporation's  compensation program are to attract,  retain and
motivate  competent  executive  officers who have the  experience and ability to
contribute  materially  to the  success  of the  Corporation's  venture  capital
investment  activities.  The  individual  judgments  made  by  the  Compensation
Committee are subjective and are based largely on the Committee's  perception of
each  executive's  contribution  to both the past  performance and the long-term
growth potential of the Corporation.  The principal elements of compensation for
executive officers are base salary,  discretionary bonus payments, stock options
granted under the Incentive Stock Option Plan and contributions  pursuant to the
Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

Base  salaries  were  determined  by the  Committee in July 1997 for each of the
executive officers on an individual basis, taking into consideration  individual
contributions  to the  Corporation's  performance,  length  of  tenure  with the
Corporation,  surveys  of  compensation  levels  for  comparable  positions  and
internal  equities  among  positions.  In addition to base  salaries,  executive
officers  received  bonus  payments  in March  1998,  the  amounts of which were
determined by the Committee on a discretionary  basis, taking into consideration
individual   performance  and  the  Corporation's   overall  performance,   with
particular emphasis on the achievement of long-term investment objectives.

Under the terms of the  Corporation's  1984 Incentive  Stock Option Plan,  which
expired  in 1994,  the  Committee  from time to time  granted  stock  options to
executive officers to reinforce the alignment of their long-term  interests with
those of the  shareholders.  Stock  options were granted at exercise  prices not
less than the fair market  value of the stock on the date of grant and thus have
no value unless the value of the Corporation's stock appreciates. During the ten
years of the 1984 Incentive Stock Option Plan, the Committee  granted options on
a total of  294,000  shares,  of which  224,900  were  exercised  and 69,100 are
currently  unexercised.  The Committee granted no incentive stock options during
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998. An important  additional  equity incentive
is provided by the  Corporation's  Employee Stock  Ownership  Plan, to which the
Corporation   contributed  9.37%  of  each   participating   employee's  covered
compensation for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998.


                                       9


<PAGE>



The Committee  established the base salary of the Corporation's  chief executive
officer, William R. Thomas, in July 1997 and his discretionary bonus in December
1997.  Compensation  levels for Mr.  Thomas were  determined on the basis of the
factors cited in the preceding paragraph,  all of which are applicable to him as
well as other  executive  officers.  Other  relevant  factors  considered by the
Committee were the Corporation's  performance  compared with similar  investment
companies and Mr. Thomas' role in defining and  accomplishing  the Corporation's
long-term  investment  objectives and  administering  its investment  management
activities.
                                             Compensation Committee
                                             James M. Nolan, Chairman
                                             Graeme W. Henderson
                                             John H. Wilson

Summary Compensation Table

         The  following  table  sets forth  summary  information  regarding  the
compensation  earned by or paid to William R. Thomas,  Chairman of the Board and
President; J. Bruce Duty, Senior Vice President; Gary L. Martin, Vice President;
Patrick  F.  Hamner,   Vice  President;   and  Tim  Smith,  Vice  President  and
Secretary-Treasurer, officers of the Corporation whose total compensation earned
during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998 exceeded $100,000.

<TABLE>

                                                   Annual Compensation
                                         --------------------------------------
       Name and                Fiscal                              Other Annual         All Other
Principal Position              Year      Salary       Bonus      Compensation(1)     Compensation(2)
- ------------------              ----      ------       -----      ---------------     ---------------

<S>                                                                                      <C>     

William R. Thomas               1998     $250,000     $145,833      $24,000              $  -
     Chairman of the            1997      250,000      145,417       18,000                 -
     Board and President        1996      250,000      150,417       18,000                 -

J. Bruce Duty                   1998      157,500       78,333        9,008              14,992
     Senior Vice President      1997      148,500       76,250        5,835              12,165
                                1996      142,375       71,000           -               18,000

Gary L. Martin                  1998      152,500        1,481           -                  -
     Vice President             1997      148,000       36,898           -               12,272
                                1996      147,000       26,423           -                  -

Patrick F. Hamner               1998      102,500       48,667        8,511              14,164
     Vice President             1997       96,500       44,083        5,469              11,401
                                1996       90,250       43,833           -               16,090

Tim Smith                       1998       98,000       43,333        7,957              13,243
     Vice President and         1997       90,500       38,833        5,031              10,489
     Secretary-Treasurer        1996       84,500       38,583           -               14,770


</TABLE>



                                       10


<PAGE>

(1)  Amounts accrued for each executive officer in lieu of a contribution to his
     account  in  an  employee  stock   ownership  plan  for  employees  of  the
     Corporation and one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the "ESOP").

(2)  Amounts contributed to the ESOP accounts of each executive officer.

     The aggregate amount of perquisites and other personal benefits provided to
Messrs. Thomas, Duty, Martin, Hamner and Smith was less than 10% of the total of
annual salary and bonus of such officers.

     In accordance with the Corporation's  established  policy, its officers and
employees are required to remit to the Corporation all compensation received for
serving as a director of any portfolio company of the Corporation.

Additional Compensation Information

     The following table sets forth additional compensation  information for the
fiscal year ended March 31,  1998 for each of the three  highest-paid  executive
officers  whose  compensation  exceeded  $60,000  (William R. Thomas and Gary L.
Martin,  both of whom are directors of the  Corporation,  and J. Bruce Duty) and
for all other directors (Graeme W. Henderson, James M. Nolan and John H.
Wilson), none of whom are employees of the Corporation.
<TABLE>

                                                        Pension or Retirement
                                    Aggregate            Benefits Accrued as        Estimated Annual
                                Compensation from       Part of Corporation's         Benefits Upon
Name and Position                the Corporation              Expenses                 Retirement
- -----------------            ----------------------    ----------------------       ----------------
<S>                                                                                       <C>      

William R. Thomas (1)                $419,833                    (3)                       (4)
   Director, Chairman
    and President

J. Bruce Duty (1)                     259,833                    (3)                       (4)
   Senior Vice President

Gary L. Martin (1)                    153,981                    (3)                       (4)
   Director and Vice
    President

Graeme W. Henderson (2)                27,667                   None                      None
    Director

James M. Nolan (2)                     27,667                   None                      None
   Director

John H. Wilson (2)                     20,167                   None                      None
   Director

</TABLE>



                                       11


<PAGE>

(1)  See Option Exercises and Fiscal Year End Values for  information  regarding
     stock options  exercised during or held at the end of the fiscal year ended
     March 31, 1998.  See Incentive  Stock Option Plan for a description  of the
     Corporation's  1984 Incentive Stock Option Plan, which expired on April 16,
     1994; no options were granted  during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998.
     See Retirement Plans for information on the  Corporation's  Retirement Plan
     and Retirement Restoration Plan. See Stock Ownership Plan for a description
     of the Corporation's Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Summary Compensation
     Table for amounts contributed to each officer's ESOP account.

(2)  Directors  who are not  employees of the  Corporation  are  compensated  as
     described under  Compensation of Directors and are not  participants in the
     Corporation's  Stock  Option  Plan,   Retirement  Plan  or  Employee  Stock
     Ownership Plan.

(3)  As  described in Note 8 to the  Corporation's  Consolidated  Statements  of
     Financial  Condition  and  Consolidated   Statements  of  Operations,   the
     Retirement  Plan was overfunded  and therefore  generated a benefit for the
     year ended March 31,  1998.  After  deducting  the expense of the  unfunded
     Retirement  Restoration Plan, the Corporation's net benefit attributable to
     both  plans  was  $313,511   for  the  year  ended  March  31,  1998.   The
     Corporation's net benefit is not allocated to individual plan participants.

(4)  Individual  retirement  benefits are based on formulas relating benefits to
     average final  compensation and years of credited  service.  See Retirement
     Plans which includes a table of estimated annual retirement benefits.

Option Exercises and Fiscal Year End Values

     The  following  table   discloses,   for  the  named  executive   officers,
information  regarding stock options  exercised  during,  or held at the end of,
fiscal 1998.

<TABLE>

                                                    Number of Securities        Value of Unexercised
                       Shares                      Underlying Unexercised       In-the-Money Options
                     Acquired on     Value           Options at 3/31/98            at 3/31/98 (2)
Name                Exercise(#)  Realized(1)   Exercisable(#)  Unexercisable(#)  Exercisable Unexercisable
- ----                ------------ ------------  --------------  ----------------  ----------- -------------
<S>                                                                               <C>         <C>   

William R. Thomas    14,000      $543,375          -              -                   -           -

J. Bruce Duty           -            -           11,200          2,800            $653,800    $163,450

Gary L. Martin          -            -            9,985          4,015             582,874     234,376

Patrick F. Hamner     6,000       295,500         9,640          4,360             562,735     254,515

Tim Smith               -            -            8,600          5,400             502,025     315,225

</TABLE>



                                       12


<PAGE>


(1)  Value  realized  is  calculated  as the  fair  market  value on the date of
     exercise net of the option exercise  price,  but before any tax liabilities
     or transaction costs.

(2)  Value of  unexercised  options is calculated as the closing market price on
     March 31, 1998 ($94.00) net of the option exercise  prices,  but before any
     tax liabilities or transaction costs.

Incentive Stock Option Plan

         The  Corporation's  1984 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option
Plan"),  which  expired on April 16,  1994,  provided  for the grant of options,
intended to qualify as incentive stock options.  All regular salaried  employees
of the  Corporation  or officers of the  Corporation  who were regular  salaried
employees of the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries were eligible to receive
options. No options were granted during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998.

         The Stock Option Plan was  administered by the  Corporation's  Board of
Directors,  which  approved  the  officers or  employees  to whom  options  were
granted, the number of options granted to each officer or employee, the dates of
grant, the terms and provisions of the respective  option agreements (which need
not be identical) and certain other terms and conditions  governing the options.
The  exercise  price was not less than the fair market value of the Common Stock
on the date the  option was  granted,  and the term of any option did not exceed
ten years.  The Stock  Option Plan  provided  that  outstanding  options  become
immediately  exercisable  if (i) a  person  who has not  owned 5% or more of the
Common  Stock for five  years  acquires  25% or more of the  outstanding  Common
Stock,  (ii) there is a change of a majority of the directors of the Corporation
if such new  directors  have not been approved by the  incumbent  directors,  or
(iii) a duly called  meeting of  shareholders  is held for the purpose of either
electing an opposing majority of the Board of Directors or voting upon a merger,
liquidation or sale of all the assets of the Corporation.  The potential cost of
the benefits  afforded option holders could  discourage  attempts to acquire the
Corporation.

Retirement Plans

         The  foregoing  Summary   Compensation   Table  does  not  include  any
contribution,  payment or accrual under a qualified non-contributory  retirement
plan (the  "Retirement  Plan")  maintained by the Corporation and certain of its
wholly-owned  subsidiaries  as such  amounts  cannot  readily be  separately  or
individually  calculated.   Messrs.  Duty,  Hamner,  Martin,  Smith  and  Thomas
participate in the Retirement Plan. An eligible employee or his survivor will be
entitled  under  the  Retirement  Plan to  receive,  upon  retirement,  death or
disability, monthly payments based upon formulas relating benefits to salary and
years of credited service,  which is generally  determined by averaging the five
consecutive  years of highest  compensation  prior to  retirement.  Salaries and
bonuses (excluding other annual compensation)  reported in the foregoing Summary
Compensation  Table are substantially  identical to compensation  covered by the
Retirement Plan ("Covered Compensation").


                                       13


<PAGE>


         The  following  table sets forth,  for  purposes of  illustration,  the
estimated  annual  retirement  benefit  payable under the  Retirement  Plan as a
straight life annuity,  after  deduction of certain  projected  Social  Security
benefits,  upon retirement to participants of specified Covered Compensation and
years of credited service who are fully vested (five years of service).  Messrs.
Duty,  Hamner,  Martin,  Smith  and  Thomas  had 18,  16,  25,  8 and 36  years,
respectively,  of  credited  service  under  the  plan  as of May 1,  1998.  All
calculations  assume retirement at age 65 (normal  retirement age) and are based
on the Social Security law in effect on January 1, 1998.

  Total Covered                          Estimated Annual Benefits
  Compensation                              Based on Service of:
                           15 Years    20 Years   25 Years   30 Years   35 Years
                           --------    --------   --------   --------   --------
     $125,000..............$ 34,465    $ 45,953   $ 57,442   $ 68,930   $ 80,418
      150,000............... 41,965      55,953     69,942     83,930     97,918
      175,000............... 49,465      65,953     82,442     98,930    115,418
      200,000............... 56,965      75,953     94,942    113,930    132,918
      225,000............... 64,465      85,953    107,442    128,930    150,418
      250,000............... 71,965      95,953    119,942    143,930    167,918
      300,000............... 86,965     115,953    144,942    173,930    202,918
      350,000...............101,965     135,953    169,942    203,930    237,918
      400,000...............116,965     155,953    194,942    233,930    272,918

         Certain of the  amounts  in the above  table are  subject to  reduction
because  applicable  federal  regulations  limit the  amount of annual  benefits
payable to certain  higher-paid  participants  under a tax-qualified  retirement
plan such as the  Retirement  Plan. The extent of such  reductions  will vary in
individual  cases  according  to  circumstances  existing  at the  time  pension
payments commence. Consequently, the Corporation and certain of its wholly-owned
subsidiaries have adopted an unfunded benefit equalization plan (the "Retirement
Restoration  Plan")  to  compensate  employees  of  the  Corporation  and  chief
executive officers of certain of the Corporation's wholly-owned subsidiaries for
the loss of retirement benefits resulting from such limitations. This Retirement
Restoration Plan provides for the payment,  upon  retirement,  of the difference
between  the  maximum  annual  payment  permissible  under the  Retirement  Plan
pursuant to federal  limitations  and the amount which would otherwise have been
payable.

         Mr. Thomas will be entitled to an additional annual retirement  benefit
as a result of his  credited  service  prior to April  1972  under a  retirement
benefit  formula of the  Corporation's  Retirement  Plan which was  modified for
credited  service  subsequent to April 1972.  Assuming Mr. Thomas had retired on
March 31, 1998, the annual  retirement  benefit  payable to Mr. Thomas under the
Retirement Plan and the Retirement  Restoration  Plan described above would have
been $364,276.


                                       14

<PAGE>



Stock Ownership Plan

         The  Corporation   maintains  an  employee  stock  ownership  plan  for
employees of the Corporation and one of its  wholly-owned  subsidiaries in which
Messrs. Duty, Hamner and Smith participate.  The Whitmore  Manufacturing Company
maintains  an employee  stock  ownership  plan for its  employees,  in which Mr.
Martin participates.  Employees who have completed one year of credited service,
as defined in the plan, are eligible to  participate in the ESOP.  Contributions
to the ESOP are discretionary, within limits established by the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.  Funds  contributed  to the trust  established  under the ESOP are
applied by the trustees to the purchase, in the open market at prevailing market
prices,  of  Common  Stock  of the  Corporation.  A  participant's  interest  in
contributions to the ESOP fully vests after five years of credited service,  and
such vested  interest is distributed  to a participant  at retirement,  death or
total  disability,  or  after  a  one  year  break  in  service  resulting  from
termination of employment for any other reason.  See Note (2) to the table under
STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS.


          APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS (PROPOSAL 2)

         The Board of Directors  has appointed the firm of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
as  independent  auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999,  subject to
approval  by the  shareholders.  A  representative  of KPMG Peat  Marwick LLP is
expected  to be present  at the Annual  Meeting  with an  opportunity  to make a
statement, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

         In order  to  approve  the  appointment  of KPMG  Peat  Marwick  LLP as
independent auditors for the Corporation for the year ending March 31, 1999, the
proposal must receive the favorable vote of a majority of the shares entitled to
vote and represented at the Annual Meeting.


                  SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999 ANNUAL MEETING

         Any  shareholder  proposal  to be  considered  by the  Corporation  for
inclusion in the proxy material for the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must
be received by the Secretary of the Corporation,  12900 Preston Road, Suite 700,
Dallas,  Texas  75230,  no later than  February 5, 1999.  Mere  submission  of a
proposal  for  consideration  does not  guarantee  its  inclusion  in the  proxy
material or presentation at the meeting.  All shareholder  proposals are subject
to the rules under the federal securities laws.





                                       15








<PAGE>




                       EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

         In  addition  to the use of the  mails,  proxies  may be  solicited  by
personal  interview and telephone by directors,  officers and other employees of
the Corporation, who will not receive additional compensation for such services.
The Corporation will also request  brokerage  houses,  nominees,  custodians and
fiduciaries to forward  soliciting  materials to the beneficial  owners of stock
held of record by them and will reimburse such persons for forwarding materials.
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Corporation.

                                  ANNUAL REPORT

         The Annual Report to Shareholders  covering the fiscal year ended March
31, 1998 accompanies this proxy statement, but is not deemed a part of the proxy
soliciting material.

         A copy of the  fiscal  1998 Form  10-K  report  to the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission,  excluding exhibits, will be mailed to shareholders without
charge  upon  written  request  to  Tim  Smith,  Secretary,   Capital  Southwest
Corporation,  12900 Preston Road, Suite 700, Dallas,  Texas 75230. Such requests
must set forth a good faith  representation that the requesting party was either
a holder of record or a beneficial  owner of Common Stock of the  Corporation on
June 1, 1998.  Exhibits to the Form 10-K will be mailed upon similar request and
payment of specified fees.

         Please date, sign and return the proxy at your earliest  convenience in
the enclosed envelope.  No postage is required for mailing in the United States.
A prompt return of your proxy will be appreciated as it will save the expense of
further mailings.

                                   By Order of the Board of Directors
                                              TIM SMITH
                                              Secretary
Dallas, Texas
June 10, 1998













                                       16


<PAGE>



                                                                      Appendix A

                          Capital Southwest Corporation

            PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS -- JULY 20, 1998

                    THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE
                     BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION.

     The undersigned (1) acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders  of  Capital  Southwest  Corporation,  a  Texas  corporation,  (the
"Corporation") to be held on Monday,  July 20, 1998, at 10:00 a.m., Dallas time,
in the Meeting  Room (1st floor) of the North Dallas Bank Tower,  12900  Preston
Road, Dallas,  Texas, and the Proxy Statement in connection  therewith;  and (2)
appoints Graeme W. Henderson,  William R. Thomas and John H. Wilson, and each of
them, his proxies with full power of  substitution,  for and in the name,  place
and stead of the  undersigned,  to vote upon and act with  respect to all of the
shares  of  Common  Stock  of  the  Corporation  standing  in  the  name  of the
undersigned,  or with respect to which the  undersigned  is entitled to vote and
act at the meeting and at any adjournment  thereof,  and the undersigned directs
that this proxy be voted:

                          IMPORTANT: SIGN ON OTHER SIDE

<TABLE>

<S>                                                                             <C>       <C>         

                     FOR all nominees        WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
                      listed at right            to vote for
                    (except as marked            all nominees
                  to the contrary below)         listed at right   Nominees: Graeme W. Henderson
1.   Election of                                                             Gary L. Martin
     Directors                                                               James M. Nolan
                      ----------                 ---------                   William R. Thomas
(INSTRUCTION:  To withhold authority to vote for                             John H. Wilson
any individual nominee, write that nominee's name
in the space provided below.)

- -------------------------------------

                                                                          FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN 
                         2. Proposal to approve the  appointment of 
                            KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as independent 
                            auditors for the Corporation.                -----   -----     -----
                                                                                                    
                                                                         
                         3. In the  discretion  of the  proxies,  on any other matter that may 
                            properly come before the meeting or, subject to the conditions in the
                            Proxy Statement, any adjournment thereof.

                         This proxy when  properly  executed  will be voted in  the manner  directed.
                         Unless otherwise  marked,  this proxy will be voted for the  election of the
                         persons named at the left hereof and for the proposal described in (2) above.

                           If more than one of the proxies named herein shall be present in person or
                         by substitute at the meeting or at any adjournment thereof, the  majority of
                         the proxies so present and voting, either in person or by  substitute, shall
                         exercise all of the powers hereby given.

                           The  undersigned  hereby  revokes  any  proxy or proxies  heretofore given
                         to vote upon  or act  with  respect to such stock  and  hereby  ratifies and
                         confirms  all that  the  proxies,  their  substitutes,  or any  of them, may
                         lawfully do by virtue hereof.

                         PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
                         ENVELOPE.  NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED.

                                                                            Date:               , 1998
- ------------------------   ------------------------   --------------------        --------------
Signature of Shareholder   Signature of Shareholder   Title, if applicable


</TABLE>

NOTE:    Please date this proxy and sign your name exactly as it appears hereon.
         Where there is more than one owner,  each should sign.  When signing as
         an attorney,  administrator,  executor, guardian or trustee, please add
         your title as such. If executed by a  corporation,  the proxy should be
         signed by a duly authorized officer. EACH JOINT TENANT SHOULD SIGN.









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