content: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
                                   UNITED STATES
                        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
  
                                   -------------
  
          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 13, 2004
  
                                     CULP, INC.
  
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
           North Carolina                  0-12781                56-1001967
  (State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File No.)       (IRS Employer
           incorporation)                                    Identification No.)
  
  
  
                               101 South Main Street
                         High Point, North Carolina  27260
                     (Address of principal executive offices)
                                  (336) 889-5161
               (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
  
  
  
  
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  
  
  
  
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  
  <PAGE>
  Item 7 - Exhibits
  
  Exhibit 99 - News Release dated May 13, 2004
  
  
  Item 9 - Regulation FD
  
  On May 13,  2004  the  registrant  issued a press  release  to  announce  senior
  management   changes.  A  copy  of  the  press  release  is  attached  hereto as
  Exhibit 99.
  
  
  
  Forward Looking Information
  
  This  release  contains  statements  that  may be  deemed  "forward-looking
  statements"  within the meaning of the federal  securities  laws,  including the
  Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (Section 27A of the Securities
  Act of 1933 and Section 27A of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934).  Such
  statements  are  inherently  subject  to  risks  and   uncertainties.   Further,
  forward-looking  statements  are  intended to speak only as of the date on which
  they  are  made.   Forward-looking   statements  are  statements   that  include
  projections, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise
  are not statements of historical  fact. Such statements are often but not always
  characterized  by  qualifying  words such as  "expect,"  "believe,"  "estimate,"
  "plan" and "project" and their  derivatives,  and include but are not limited to
  statements  about  expectations  for the company's  future  sales,  gross profit
  margins,  SG&A or  other  expenses,  and  earnings,  as  well as any  statements
  regarding the company's  view of estimates of the  company's  future  results by
  analysts.  Factors that could influence the matters discussed in such statements
  include  the level of  housing  starts  and sales of  existing  homes,  consumer
  confidence,  trends in  disposable  income,  and  general  economic  conditions.
  Decreases  in these  economic  indicators  could have a  negative  effect on the
  company's  business  and  prospects.  Likewise,  increases  in  interest  rates,
  particularly  home mortgage rates, and increases in consumer debt or the general
  rate  of   inflation,   could  affect  the  company   adversely.   In  addition,
  strengthening  of the U. S.  dollar  against  other  currencies  could  make the
  company's products less competitive on the basis of price in markets outside the
  United States.  Also, economic and political  instability in international areas
  could affect the  company's  operations  or sources of goods in those areas,  as
  well as demand for the company's  products in  international  markets.  Finally,
  unanticipated delays or costs in executing restructuring actions could cause the
  cumulative  effect of  restructuring  actions to fail to meet the objectives set
  forth by  management.  Other factors that could affect the matters  discussed in
  forward-looking  statements are included in the company's periodic reports filed
  with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
  
  
  
                                     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.
  
  
                                           CULP, INC.
                                           (Registrant)
  
  
                                By:    /s/ Kenneth M. Ludwig
                                           -------------------
                                           Kenneth M. Ludwig
                                           Senior Vice President
                                           Human Resources
  
  <PAGE>
  Exhibit 99
  
  
  
  
  Investor Contact: Kathy J. Hardy         Media Contact:   Kenneth M. Ludwig
                    Corporate Secretary                     Senior Vice President,
                    336-888-6209                            Human Resources
                                                            336-889-5161
  
  
                      CULP ANNOUNCES SENIOR MANAGEMENT CHANGES
  
  HIGH POINT,  N.C. (May 13, 2004) - Culp,  Inc.  (NYSE:  CFI) today announced the
  following changes in the company's senior management team.
  
       Howard L. Dunn,  president and chief operating officer of Culp, will assume
  the newly created position of vice chairman.  Dunn joined Culp in 1972 as one of
  its founders.  Over the past 32 years he has served in various senior management
  positions  with  responsibilities  for the areas of sales,  design  and  product
  development, and manufacturing. In his new role with the company, Dunn will have
  executive responsibility for Culp's China operations and will remain involved in
  the company's design and product development activities.
  
       Franklin N. Saxon has been named Dunn's  successor  as president  and chief
  operating  officer.  Previously,  Saxon was executive  vice  president and chief
  financial officer, as well as president of the Culp Velvets/Prints  Division. He
  has been with the  company  since 1983 and a director  since  1987.  A new chief
  financial  officer will be named in the near future and will report  directly to
  Saxon.
  
       Robert G. Culp,  III,  chairman  and chief  executive  officer,  commented,
  "Howard  Dunn has played a vital role in the growth and success of Culp since we
  started  the  business  in 1972  as a  small,  but  ambitious,  company  to sell
  upholstery  fabrics.  Since then, Howard has helped lead Culp's evolution into a
  fully  integrated  manufacturer  and one of the  world's  largest  marketers  of
  upholstery  fabrics for furniture and a leading marketer of mattress ticking for
  bedding.  And, as the company has grown, our consistent ability to provide value
  for both our customers and shareholders also reflects Howard's talent, drive and
  strategic  vision.  Throughout  his  32  years  with  the  company,  Howard  has
  demonstrated  both the  leadership and the  operational  skills needed to assure
  that Culp has always been positioned to anticipate new market opportunities.  We
  will  continue to benefit from  Howard's  experience as he takes on his new role
  with Culp.  Furthermore,  as we make this transition,  we are confident in Frank
  Saxon's ability to assume his new leadership position. Frank's long history with
  Culp has  demonstrated  his  leadership  abilities  and the drive and  energy to
  address the key operating issues within the company."
  
       The company also named new leadership for each of its divisions.  Rodney A.
  Smith has been named president of the Culp Decorative  Fabrics division.  He has
  been with the  company  since  1997,  first  serving as  general  manager of the
  Phillips  Weaving  operation,  and most recently as senior vice president of the
  Culp Decorative  Fabrics division and president of the Culp Yarn division.  Boyd
  B.  Chumbley  will assume the position of  president of the Culp  Velvets/Prints
  division. Since 1997, Chumbley has served as vice president of manufacturing for
  this  division and  previously  held various  positions in the areas of finance,
  operations and  manufacturing.  He joined Culp in 1984.  Robert G. Culp, IV, has
  been named  president of the Culp Home Fashions  division.  He has been with the
  company  since  1998,  and has served in various  capacities,  most  recently as
  executive vice president of the Culp Home Fashions division.
  
       Commenting on the new leadership for Culp, Dunn added, "We are enthusiastic
  about the future of Culp and are pleased  that we have been able to develop this
  leadership  from  within  the  company.  We are  fortunate  to have the level of
  experience and tenure with the company that each of these  individuals  possess.
  Our new  management  structure  will allow us to focus  attention on each of our
  business units, and to continue to have strong  leadership in all aspects of the
  company.  We believe we have the right team in place to execute our strategy and
  continue Culp's track record of growth and excellence."
  
       Culp,  Inc. is one of the world's largest  marketers of upholstery  fabrics
  for furniture  and is a leading  marketer of mattress  ticking for bedding.  The
  company's  fabrics are used  principally in the  production of  residential  and
  commercial furniture and bedding products.
  
       This  release  contains  statements  that  may be  deemed  "forward-looking
  statements"  within the meaning of the federal  securities  laws,  including the
  Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (Section 27A of the Securities
  Act of 1933 and Section 27A of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934).  Such
  statements  are  inherently  subject  to  risks  and   uncertainties.   Further,
  forward-looking  statements  are  intended to speak only as of the date on which
  they  are  made.   Forward-looking   statements  are  statements   that  include
  projections, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise
  are not statements of historical  fact. Such statements are often but not always
  characterized  by  qualifying  words such as  "expect,"  "believe,"  "estimate,"
  "plan" and "project" and their  derivatives,  and include but are not limited to
  statements  about  expectations  for the company's  future  sales,  gross profit
  margins,  SG&A or  other  expenses,  and  earnings,  as  well as any  statements
  regarding the company's  view of estimates of the  company's  future  results by
  analysts.  Factors that could influence the matters discussed in such statements
  include  the level of  housing  starts  and sales of  existing  homes,  consumer
  confidence,  trends in  disposable  income,  and  general  economic  conditions.
  Decreases  in these  economic  indicators  could have a  negative  effect on the
  company's  business  and  prospects.  Likewise,  increases  in  interest  rates,
  particularly  home mortgage rates, and increases in consumer debt or the general
  rate  of   inflation,   could  affect  the  company   adversely.   In  addition,
  strengthening  of the U. S.  dollar  against  other  currencies  could  make the
  company's products less competitive on the basis of price in markets outside the
  United States.  Also, economic and political  instability in international areas
  could affect the  company's  operations  or sources of goods in those areas,  as
  well as demand for the company's  products in  international  markets.  Finally,
  unanticipated delays or costs in executing restructuring actions could cause the
  cumulative  effect of  restructuring  actions to fail to meet the objectives set
  forth by  management.  Other factors that could affect the matters  discussed in
  forward-looking  statements are included in the company's periodic reports filed
  with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
  
                                        -END-
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "c8k51304.txt", "description": "CULP, INC.    8K    5-13-04", "secsgml_size_bytes": 11980}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CULP INC", "cik": "0000723603", "assigned-sic": "2211", "irs-number": "561001967", "state-of-incorporation": "NC", "fiscal-year-end": "0430"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-12597", "film-number": "04804557"}, "business-address": {"street1": "101 S MAIN ST", "city": "HIGH POINT", "state": "NC", "zip": "27260", "phone": "3368895161"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 2686", "street2": "101 S MAIN ST", "city": "HIGH POINT", "state": "NC", "zip": "27261"}}
text: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
                                   UNITED STATES
                        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
  
                                   -------------
  
          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 13, 2004
  
                                     CULP, INC.
  
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
           North Carolina                  0-12781                56-1001967
  (State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File No.)       (IRS Employer
           incorporation)                                    Identification No.)
  
                               101 South Main Street
                         High Point, North Carolina  27260
                     (Address of principal executive offices)
                                  (336) 889-5161
               (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Item 7 - Exhibits
  
  Exhibit 99 - News Release dated May 13, 2004
  
  Item 9 - Regulation FD
  
  On May 13,  2004  the  registrant  issued a press  release  to  announce  senior
  management   changes.  A  copy  of  the  press  release  is  attached  hereto as
  Exhibit 99.
  
  Forward Looking Information
  
  This  release  contains  statements  that  may be  deemed  "forward-looking
  statements"  within the meaning of the federal  securities  laws,  including the
  Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (Section 27A of the Securities
  Act of 1933 and Section 27A of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934).  Such
  statements  are  inherently  subject  to  risks  and   uncertainties.   Further,
  forward-looking  statements  are  intended to speak only as of the date on which
  they  are  made.   Forward-looking   statements  are  statements   that  include
  projections, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise
  are not statements of historical  fact. Such statements are often but not always
  characterized  by  qualifying  words such as  "expect,"  "believe,"  "estimate,"
  "plan" and "project" and their  derivatives,  and include but are not limited to
  statements  about  expectations  for the company's  future  sales,  gross profit
  margins,  SG&A or  other  expenses,  and  earnings,  as  well as any  statements
  regarding the company's  view of estimates of the  company's  future  results by
  analysts.  Factors that could influence the matters discussed in such statements
  include  the level of  housing  starts  and sales of  existing  homes,  consumer
  confidence,  trends in  disposable  income,  and  general  economic  conditions.
  Decreases  in these  economic  indicators  could have a  negative  effect on the
  company's  business  and  prospects.  Likewise,  increases  in  interest  rates,
  particularly  home mortgage rates, and increases in consumer debt or the general
  rate  of   inflation,   could  affect  the  company   adversely.   In  addition,
  strengthening  of the U. S.  dollar  against  other  currencies  could  make the
  company's products less competitive on the basis of price in markets outside the
  United States.  Also, economic and political  instability in international areas
  could affect the  company's  operations  or sources of goods in those areas,  as
  well as demand for the company's  products in  international  markets.  Finally,
  unanticipated delays or costs in executing restructuring actions could cause the
  cumulative  effect of  restructuring  actions to fail to meet the objectives set
  forth by  management.  Other factors that could affect the matters  discussed in
  forward-looking  statements are included in the company's periodic reports filed
  with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
                                     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.
  
                                           CULP, INC.
                                           (Registrant)
  
                                By:    /s/ Kenneth M. Ludwig
                                           -------------------
                                           Kenneth M. Ludwig
                                           Senior Vice President
                                           Human Resources
  Exhibit 99
  
  Investor Contact: Kathy J. Hardy         Media Contact:   Kenneth M. Ludwig
                    Corporate Secretary                     Senior Vice President,
                    336-888-6209                            Human Resources
                                                            336-889-5161
  
                      CULP ANNOUNCES SENIOR MANAGEMENT CHANGES
  
  HIGH POINT,  N.C. (May 13, 2004) - Culp,  Inc.  (NYSE:  CFI) today announced the
  following changes in the company's senior management team.
  
       Howard L. Dunn,  president and chief operating officer of Culp, will assume
  the newly created position of vice chairman.  Dunn joined Culp in 1972 as one of
  its founders.  Over the past 32 years he has served in various senior management
  positions  with  responsibilities  for the areas of sales,  design  and  product
  development, and manufacturing. In his new role with the company, Dunn will have
  executive responsibility for Culp's China operations and will remain involved in
  the company's design and product development activities.
  
       Franklin N. Saxon has been named Dunn's  successor  as president  and chief
  operating  officer.  Previously,  Saxon was executive  vice  president and chief
  financial officer, as well as president of the Culp Velvets/Prints  Division. He
  has been with the  company  since 1983 and a director  since  1987.  A new chief
  financial  officer will be named in the near future and will report  directly to
  Saxon.
  
       Robert G. Culp,  III,  chairman  and chief  executive  officer,  commented,
  "Howard  Dunn has played a vital role in the growth and success of Culp since we
  started  the  business  in 1972  as a  small,  but  ambitious,  company  to sell
  upholstery  fabrics.  Since then, Howard has helped lead Culp's evolution into a
  fully  integrated  manufacturer  and one of the  world's  largest  marketers  of
  upholstery  fabrics for furniture and a leading marketer of mattress ticking for
  bedding.  And, as the company has grown, our consistent ability to provide value
  for both our customers and shareholders also reflects Howard's talent, drive and
  strategic  vision.  Throughout  his  32  years  with  the  company,  Howard  has
  demonstrated  both the  leadership and the  operational  skills needed to assure
  that Culp has always been positioned to anticipate new market opportunities.  We
  will  continue to benefit from  Howard's  experience as he takes on his new role
  with Culp.  Furthermore,  as we make this transition,  we are confident in Frank
  Saxon's ability to assume his new leadership position. Frank's long history with
  Culp has  demonstrated  his  leadership  abilities  and the drive and  energy to
  address the key operating issues within the company."
  
       The company also named new leadership for each of its divisions.  Rodney A.
  Smith has been named president of the Culp Decorative  Fabrics division.  He has
  been with the  company  since  1997,  first  serving as  general  manager of the
  Phillips  Weaving  operation,  and most recently as senior vice president of the
  Culp Decorative  Fabrics division and president of the Culp Yarn division.  Boyd
  B.  Chumbley  will assume the position of  president of the Culp  Velvets/Prints
  division. Since 1997, Chumbley has served as vice president of manufacturing for
  this  division and  previously  held various  positions in the areas of finance,
  operations and  manufacturing.  He joined Culp in 1984.  Robert G. Culp, IV, has
  been named  president of the Culp Home Fashions  division.  He has been with the
  company  since  1998,  and has served in various  capacities,  most  recently as
  executive vice president of the Culp Home Fashions division.
  
       Commenting on the new leadership for Culp, Dunn added, "We are enthusiastic
  about the future of Culp and are pleased  that we have been able to develop this
  leadership  from  within  the  company.  We are  fortunate  to have the level of
  experience and tenure with the company that each of these  individuals  possess.
  Our new  management  structure  will allow us to focus  attention on each of our
  business units, and to continue to have strong  leadership in all aspects of the
  company.  We believe we have the right team in place to execute our strategy and
  continue Culp's track record of growth and excellence."
  
       Culp,  Inc. is one of the world's largest  marketers of upholstery  fabrics
  for furniture  and is a leading  marketer of mattress  ticking for bedding.  The
  company's  fabrics are used  principally in the  production of  residential  and
  commercial furniture and bedding products.
  
       This  release  contains  statements  that  may be  deemed  "forward-looking
  statements"  within the meaning of the federal  securities  laws,  including the
  Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (Section 27A of the Securities
  Act of 1933 and Section 27A of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934).  Such
  statements  are  inherently  subject  to  risks  and   uncertainties.   Further,
  forward-looking  statements  are  intended to speak only as of the date on which
  they  are  made.   Forward-looking   statements  are  statements   that  include
  projections, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise
  are not statements of historical  fact. Such statements are often but not always
  characterized  by  qualifying  words such as  "expect,"  "believe,"  "estimate,"
  "plan" and "project" and their  derivatives,  and include but are not limited to
  statements  about  expectations  for the company's  future  sales,  gross profit
  margins,  SG&A or  other  expenses,  and  earnings,  as  well as any  statements
  regarding the company's  view of estimates of the  company's  future  results by
  analysts.  Factors that could influence the matters discussed in such statements
  include  the level of  housing  starts  and sales of  existing  homes,  consumer
  confidence,  trends in  disposable  income,  and  general  economic  conditions.
  Decreases  in these  economic  indicators  could have a  negative  effect on the
  company's  business  and  prospects.  Likewise,  increases  in  interest  rates,
  particularly  home mortgage rates, and increases in consumer debt or the general
  rate  of   inflation,   could  affect  the  company   adversely.   In  addition,
  strengthening  of the U. S.  dollar  against  other  currencies  could  make the
  company's products less competitive on the basis of price in markets outside the
  United States.  Also, economic and political  instability in international areas
  could affect the  company's  operations  or sources of goods in those areas,  as
  well as demand for the company's  products in  international  markets.  Finally,
  unanticipated delays or costs in executing restructuring actions could cause the
  cumulative  effect of  restructuring  actions to fail to meet the objectives set
  forth by  management.  Other factors that could affect the matters  discussed in
  forward-looking  statements are included in the company's periodic reports filed
  with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
                                        -END-