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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 6)*
AIRGAS, INC.
______________________________________________
(Name of Issuer)
COMMON STOCK
______________________________________________
(Title of Class of Securities)
009363 10 2
__________________________
(CUSIP Number)
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [ ]. (A
fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the
class of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment
subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent of less of
such class). (See Rule 13d-7).
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act
(however, see the Notes).
(Continued on following page(s))
Page 1 of 5 pages
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CUSIP No. 009363 10 2 13G Page 2 of 5 pages
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____________________________________________________________________________
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Peter McCausland
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ]
(b) [ X ]
____________________________________________________________________________
3. SEC USE ONLY
____________________________________________________________________________
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
____________________________________________________________________________
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
7,192,547
___________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 2,402,888
OWNED BY
___________________________________________________________
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON 7,192,547
WITH
___________________________________________________________
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,402,888
____________________________________________________________________________
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9,595,435
____________________________________________________________________________
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[ ]
____________________________________________________________________________
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
13.8%
____________________________________________________________________________
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
____________________________________________________________________________
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CUSIP No. 009363 10 2 13G Page 3 of 5 pages
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____________________________________________________________________________
Item 1(a) Name of Issuer
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Airgas, Inc.
Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices
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Airgas, Inc.
Radnor Court
259 Radnor-Chester Road, Suite 100
Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087-5240
Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing
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Peter McCausland
Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office, or, if none, Residence
____________________________________________________________
Airgas, Inc.
Radnor Court
259 Radnor-Chester Road, Suite 100
Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087-5240
Item 2(c) Citizenship
___________
United States
Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities
____________________________
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
Item 2(e) CUSIP Number
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009363 10 2
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Item 3 Not Applicable
Item 4 Ownership
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(a) and (b) Peter McCausland beneficially owned an aggregate of
9,595,435 shares of the issuer's Common Stock, or approximately 13.8% of the
shares outstanding as of December 31, 1996, of which 1,044,000 shares were
issuable upon exercise of employee stock options.
(c) Peter McCausland had sole power to vote or to direct the vote, and
sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of, 7,192,547 shares of
the issuer's Common Stock, of which 1,044,000 shares were issuable upon
exercise of employee stock options. Mr. McCausland had shared power to vote
or to direct the vote, and shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of, 2,402,888 shares of the Common Stock, which included 90,558
shares held by
a charitable foundation (the "Foundation") of which Mr. McCausland is an
officer and director, and 32,450 shares which are held under the issuer's
401(k) plan.
Item 5 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
____________________________________________
Not applicable
Item 6 Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person
_______________________________________________________________
No other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the
issuer's shares which are the subject of this Amendment to Schedule 13G,
except that with respect to 2,279,880 shares members of Mr. McCausland's
family share with Mr. McCausland the right, and with respect to 90,558
shares the Foundation has the exclusive right, to receive the dividends from
and the proceeds of sale.
Item 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company
___________________________________________________________________
Not Applicable
Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
_________________________________________________________
Not Applicable
Item 9 Notice of Dissolution of Group
______________________________
Not Applicable
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Item 10 Certification
_____________
Not Applicable
Signature
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.
February 13, 1997
__________________________________
Date
/S/PETER McCAUSLAND
__________________________________
Signature
Peter McCausland, Chairman and CEO
__________________________________
Name/Title
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