8-K

UNITED STATESSECURITIES 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

Date of Report: June 3, 2008
(Date of earliest event reported)

THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
 (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Tennessee
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1- 4682	22-1326940
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

8155 T&B Boulevard
Memphis, Tennessee 38125

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(901) 252-8000
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

⃞ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

⃞ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 5.02     DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR PRINCIPAL OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

(d)	On June 3, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) appointed Mr. Rufus H. Rivers as a new director. Mr. Rivers is a Managing Director of RLJ Equity Partners, LLC.
	Mr. Rivers’ initial term will expire on the date of the Company’s annual shareholder meeting in 2009. Mr. Rivers was appointed to serve on the Audit Committee of the Board.
	On May 7, 2008, the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board approved the 2008-09 Director Fee Schedule. Pursuant to the schedule, Mr. Rivers will receive an Annual Retainer of $40,000, Board Meeting Fee of $2,000, and Committee Meeting Fee of $1,500.
	Also, pursuant to the 2008-09 Director Fee Schedule, on June 3, 2008, Mr. Rivers was granted a restricted stock award of 1,210 shares subject to a one year restriction and an outright grant of 1,210 unrestricted shares. The fair value of Thomas & Betts Corporation’s stock on June 3, 2008 was $41.31.
	The Company issued a press release on June 5, 2008 announcing Mr. Rivers’ appointment to the Board. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)	Exhibits
99.1	Press Release dated June 5, 2008.

SIGNATURE

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.

		Thomas & Betts Corporation
		(Registrant)
		By: /s/ W. David Smith, Jr.
		W. David Smith, Jr.
		Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
Date:	June 5, 2008

Exhibit Index

Exhibit	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated June 5, 2008.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Thomas & Betts Corporation Appoints Rufus H. Rivers to Board of Directors

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thomas & Betts Corporation (NYSE: TNB) today announced the appointment of Rufus H. Rivers as a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Rivers fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Ernest H. Drew, who did not stand for re-election at the company’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. With the addition of Rivers, the company’s Board has 10 members, including nine independent directors.

Rivers, 43, is a managing director of RLJ Equity Partners, LLC. Part of the RLJ Companies, RLJ Equity is a private investment firm focusing on middle-market companies in the media, consumer products and professional services sectors. The RLJ Companies, founded by Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, is a diverse portfolio of companies in the financial services, real estate, hospitality, professional sports, film production, automotive and gaming industries.

Prior to joining RLJ Equity, Rivers served as co-founder and managing director of Carlyle Mezzanine Partners, L.P., a private debt and equity fund associated with The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest investment firms. He has also held executive positions with TCW/Crescent Mezzanine LLC, Heller Financial, Inc. and the First National Bank of Chicago. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College and a Masters of Business Administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University.

Thomas & Betts Corporation (www.tnb.com) is a leading designer and manufacturer of electrical components used in industrial, commercial, communications and utility markets. The company is also a leading producer of commercial heating and ventilation units and highly engineered steel structures used, among other things, for utility transmission. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company has manufacturing, distribution and office facilities worldwide. In 2007, Thomas & Betts reported net sales of $2.1 billion.

CONTACT:
Thomas & Betts Corporation
Tricia Bergeron, 901-252-8266
tricia.bergeron@tnb.com