<PAGE>



    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2000
		      Registration No. 333-_______________
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

			     UNITED STATES
		  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
		       Washington, D.C.  20549

	       _________________________________________

			      FORM S-8

	REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
	       _________________________________________

		      OHIO CASUALTY CORPORATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

	 Ohio                                        31-0783294
---------------------                           -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                   (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                  Identification No.)


9450 Seward Road, Fairfield, Ohio                     45014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)            (Zip Code)


	  Stock Option Agreements, effective as of March 23, 2000
      between Ohio Casualty Corporation and each of Terrence J. Baehr,
   Arthur J. Bennert, Jack E. Brown, Catherine E. Dolan, Wayne R. Embry,
	  Vaden Fitton, Stephen S. Marcum, Stanley N. Pontius,
	      Howard L. Sloneker III and William L. Woodall
	      ---------------------------------------------
		       (Full title of the plans)


			 Howard L. Sloneker III
		  Senior Vice President and Secretary
		       Ohio Casualty Corporation
			   9450 Seward Road
			Fairfield, Ohio 45014
			---------------------
	      (Name and address of agent for service)


			   (513) 603-2600
			   ---------------
      (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
		     ___________________________



		 Index to Exhibits at pages 15-16.


<PAGE>    2


					      [Continuation of Facing Page]

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

		     Calculation of Registration Fee

				    Proposed        Proposed
  Title of                          maximum         maximum
 securities          Amount         offering        aggregate      Amount of
   to be             to be           price          offering      registration
 registered        registered      per share(1)     price(1)          fee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                 <C>              <C>            <C>              <C>

Common Shares,      165,000          $9.0625        $1,495,313       $394.76
$.125 Par Value(2)

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

</TABLE>


(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the aggregate offering
price and the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457 (c) and (h) promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and computed on the basis of
$9.0625 per share, which price is the average of the high and low sales prices
of the Common Shares as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on August 2,
2000.

(2)  This Registration Statement also covers related Common Share Purchase
Rights (the "Rights") which evidence the right to purchase, under certain
conditions, one Common Share, $.125 par value.  Registrant is required to
deliver one-half of one Right with each Common Share that becomes outstanding
until the "distribution date" (as defined in the Amended and Restated Rights
Agreement dated as of February 18, 1998 between the Registrant and First
Chicago Trust Company of New York as Rights Agent) for the Rights, at which
date the Rights will commence trading separately from the Common Shares.


				  2

<PAGE>    3



				  Part II

	     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
--------------------------------------------------

	  The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999, of Ohio Casualty Corporation (the "Registrant") and all other reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 (a) or Section 15 (d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), since that date are
hereby incorporated by reference.

	  The description of the Registrant's Common Shares contained in the
Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December
15, 1998, and the description of the Common Share Purchase Rights of the
Registrant contained in the Registrant's Form 8-A/A Amendment No. 4 filed with
the Commission on July 2, 1999, or contained in any subsequent amendment or
report filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions, are hereby
incorporated by reference.

	  Any definitive proxy statement or information statement filed
pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and all documents which may be
filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 (d) of the Exchange
Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the completion of the offering
contemplated hereby, shall also be deemed to be incorporated herein by
reference and to be made a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents; provided, however, that no report of the Executive Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Registrant on executive
compensation and no performance graph included in any proxy statement or
information statement filed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act shall
be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference.


Item 4.   Description of Securities.
------------------------------------

		Not Applicable.


Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
-------------------------------------------------

		Not Applicable.


				  3

<PAGE>   4


Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
---------------------------------------------------

	 Article V of the Regulations of the Registrant governs the
indemnification of officers and directors of the Registrant.  Article V
provides:

	 Section 1.   Mandatory Indemnification.  The corporation shall
indemnify (A) any officer or director of the corporation and (B) any person
(including an officer or director of the corporation) who has served or is
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee or officer of
another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit),
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or
investigative (including, without limitation, any action threatened or
instituted by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that
he is or was a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation (domestic
or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture, trust, or
other enterprise, against expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys'
fees, filing fees, court reporters' fees and transcript costs), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him
in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  A
person claiming indemnification under this Section 1 shall be presumed in
respect of any act or omission giving rise to such claim for indemnification,
to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any
criminal matter, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful, and the termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, rebut such presumption.

	 Section 2.   Court-Approved Indemnification.  Anything contained in
the Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding:

	 (A)   the corporation shall not indemnify (i) any officer or director
of the corporation, or (ii) any person (including an officer or director of
the corporation) who has served or is serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, trustee or officer of another corporation (domestic
or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise who was a party to any completed action or suit instituted by
or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation (domestic
or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, in respect of any claim, issue or matter asserted in such
action or suit as to which he shall have been adjudged to be liable for gross


				  4

<PAGE>   5


negligence or misconduct (other than negligence) in the performance of his
duty to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Common
Pleas of Butler County, Ohio or the court in which such action or suit was
brought shall determine upon application that despite such adjudication of
liability, and in view of all the circumstances of the case, he is fairly and
reasonably entitled to such indemnity as such Court of Common Pleas or such
other court shall deem proper; and

	 (B)   the corporation shall promptly make any such unpaid
indemnification as is determined by a court to be proper as contemplated by
this Section 2.

	 Section 3.   Indemnification for Expenses.  Anything contained in the
Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent that
an officer or director of the corporation or any person (including an officer
or director of the corporation) who has served or is serving at the request of
the corporation as a director, trustee or officer of another corporation
(domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1, or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be promptly
indemnified by the corporation against expenses (including, without
limitation, attorneys' fees, filing fees, court reporters' fees and transcript
costs) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

	 Section 4.   Determination Required.  Any indemnification required
under Section 1 and not precluded under Section 2 shall be made by the
corporation only upon a determination that such indemnification is proper in
the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of
conduct set forth in Section 1.  Such determination may be made only (A) by a
majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of the corporation who were
not and are not parties to, or threatened with, any such action, suit or
proceeding or (B) if such a quorum is not obtainable or if a majority of a
quorum of disinterested directors so directs, in a written opinion by
independent legal counsel other than an attorney, or a firm having associated
with it an attorney, who has been retained by or who has performed services
for the corporation, or any person to be indemnified, within the past five
years or (C) by the shareholders or (D) by the Court of Common Pleas of Butler
County, Ohio or (if the corporation is a party thereto) the court in which
such action, suit or proceeding was brought, if any; any such determination
may be made by a court under subparagraph (D) of this Section at any time
(including, without limitation, any time before, during or after the time when
any such determination may be requested of, be under consideration by or have
been denied or disregarded by the disinterested directors under subparagraph
(A) or by independent legal counsel under subparagraph (B) or by the
shareholders under subparagraph (C) of this Section); and no failure for any
reason to make any such determination, and no decision for any reason to deny
any such determination, by the disinterested directors under subparagraph (A)
or by independent legal counsel under subparagraph (B) or by shareholders
under subparagraph (C) of this Section shall be evidence in rebuttal of the
presumption recited in Section 1.  Any determination made by the disinterested
directors under subparagraph (A) of this Section


				  5

<PAGE>    6


or by independent legal counsel under subparagraph (B) of this Section to make
indemnification in respect of any claim, issue or matter asserted in an action
or suit threatened or brought by or in the right of the corporation shall be
promptly communicated to the person who threatened or brought such action or
suit, and within ten (10) days after receipt of such notification such person
shall have the right to petition the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County,
Ohio or the court in which such action or suit was brought, if any, to review
the reasonableness of such determination.

	 Section 5.   Advances for Expenses.  Expenses (including, without
limitation, attorneys' fees, filing fees, court reporters' fees and transcript
costs) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding referred to in
Section 1 shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition
of such action, suit or proceeding to or on behalf of the officer, Director or
other person entitled to indemnity under Section 1 promptly as such expenses
are incurred by him, but only if such officer, Director or other person shall
first agree, in writing, to repay all amounts so paid in respect of any claim,
issue or other matter asserted in such action, suit or proceeding in defense
of which he shall not have been successful on the merits or otherwise:

	 (A)  unless it shall ultimately be determined as provided in Section
4 that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as provided
under Section 1; or

	 (B)  if, in respect of any claim, issue or other matter asserted by
or in the right of the corporation in such action or suit, he shall have been
adjudged to be liable for gross negligence or misconduct (other than
negligence) in the performance of his duty to the corporation, unless and only
to the extent that the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County, Ohio or the
court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon
application that, despite such adjudication of liability, and in view of all
the circumstances, he is fairly and reasonably entitled to all or part of such
indemnification.

	 Section 6.   Article V Not Exclusive.  The indemnification provided
by this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which
any person seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Articles or the
Regulations or any agreement, vote of shareholders of the corporation or
disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in his official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and
shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be an officer or director of
the corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and
administrators of such a person.

	 Section 7.   Insurance.  The corporation may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of
the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of another
corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint
venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against
him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as
such,


				  6

<PAGE>    7


whether or not the corporation would have the obligation or the power to
indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article V.

	 Section 8.   Certain Definitions.  For purposes of this Article V,
and as examples and not by way of limitation:

	 (A)     A person claiming indemnification under this Article V
shall be deemed to have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense
of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1, or in defense of
any claim, issue or other matter therein, if such action, suit or proceeding
shall be terminated as to such person, with or without prejudice, without the
entry of a judgment or order against him, without a conviction of him, without
the imposition of a fine upon him, and without his payment or agreement to pay
any amount in settlement thereof (whether or not any such termination is based
upon a judicial or other determination of lack of merit of the claims made
against him or otherwise results in a vindication of him); and

	 (B)     References to an "other enterprise" shall include employee
benefit plans; references to a "fine" shall include any excise taxes assessed
on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to
"serving at the request of the corporation" shall include any service as a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties
on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with
respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a
person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee
benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the
best interest of the corporation" within the meaning of that term as used in
this Article V.

	 Section 9.   Venue.  Any action, suit or proceeding to determine a
claim for indemnification under this Article V may be maintained by the person
claiming such indemnification, or by the corporation, in the Court of Common
Pleas of Butler County, Ohio.  The corporation and (by claiming such
indemnification) each such person consent to the exercise of jurisdiction over
its or his person by the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County, Ohio in any
such action, suit or proceeding.

	 Division (E) of Section 1701.13 of the Ohio Revised Code addresses
indemnification by an Ohio corporation and provides as follows:

	 (E) (1) A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any
threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than an action by or in the
right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member,
manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or
for profit, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture,
trust, or other


				  7

<PAGE>    8


enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines,
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with such action, suit, or proceeding, if he acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, if he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not
act in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, he had reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.

	 (2)     A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any
threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, by reason of the fact that he
is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or
was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer,
employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or
foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a
partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses,
including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall
be made in respect of any of the following:

	 (a)     Any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person is
adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his
duty to the corporation unless, and only to the extent that, the court of
common pleas or the court in which such action or suit was brought determines,
upon application, that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of
all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court of common pleas or such
other court shall deem proper;

	 (b)     Any action or suit in which the only liability asserted
against a director is pursuant to section 1701.95 of the Revised Code.

	 (3)     To the extent that a director, trustee, officer, employee,
member, manager, or agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E) (1) or
(2) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, he
shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding.

	 (4)     Any indemnification under division (E) (1) or (2) of this
section, unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the corporation only as
authorized in the


				  8

<PAGE>    9


specific case, upon a determination that indemnification of the director,
trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth
in division (E) (1) or (2) of this section.  Such determination shall be
made as follows:

	 (a)     By a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of
the indemnifying corporation who were not and are not parties to or threatened
with the action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E) (1) or (2) of
this section;

	 (b)     If the quorum described in division (E) (4) (a) of this
section is not obtainable or if a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested
directors so directs, in a written opinion by independent legal counsel other
than an attorney, or a firm having associated with it an attorney, who has
been retained by or who has performed services for the corporation or any
person to be indemnified within the past five years;

	 (c)     By the shareholders;

	 (d)     By the court of common pleas or the court in which the
action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E) (1) or (2) of this
section was brought.

	 Any determination made by the disinterested directors under division
(E) (4) (a) or by independent legal counsel under division (E) (4) (b) of this
section shall be promptly communicated to the person who threatened or brought
the action or suit by or in the right of the corporation under division (E)
(2) of this section, and, within ten days after receipt of such notification,
such person shall have the right to petition the court of common pleas or the
court in which such action or suit was brought to review the reasonableness of
such determination.

	 (5) (a) Unless at the time of a director's act or omission that is
the subject of an action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E) (1)
or (2) of this section, the articles or the regulations of a corporation
state, by specific reference to this division, that the provisions of this
division do not apply to the corporation and unless the only liability
asserted against a director in an action, suit, or proceeding referred to in
division (E) (1) or (2) of this section is pursuant to section 1701.95 of the
Revised Code, expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a director in
defending the action, suit, or proceeding shall be paid by the corporation as
they are incurred, in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or
proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director in
which he agrees to do both of the following:

	 (i)     Repay such amount if it is proved by clear and convincing
evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that his action or failure to
act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause
injury to the corporation or undertaken with reckless disregard for the best
interests of the corporation;


				  9

<PAGE>   10


	 (ii)    Reasonably cooperate with the corporation concerning the
action, suit, or proceeding.

	 (b)     Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a
director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent in defending
any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E) (1) or (2) of this
section, may be paid by the corporation as they are incurred, in advance of
the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, as authorized by the
directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf
of the director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent to
repay such amount, if it ultimately is determined that he is not entitled to
be indemnified by the corporation.

	 (6)     The indemnification authorized by this section shall not
be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other rights granted to
those seeking indemnification  under the articles, the regulations, any
agreement, a vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise,
both as to action in their official capacities and as to action in another
capacity while holding their offices or positions, and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, employee, member,
manager, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and
administrators of such a person.

	 (7)     A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or
furnish similar protection, including, but not limited to, trust funds,
letters of credit, or self-insurance, on behalf of or for any person who is or
was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer,
employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or
foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a
partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability
asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out
of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify him against such liability under this section. Insurance may be
purchased from or maintained with a person in which the corporation has a
financial interest.

	 (8)     The authority of a corporation to indemnify persons
pursuant to division (E) (1) or (2) of this section does not limit the payment
of expenses as they are incurred, indemnification, insurance, or other
protection that may be provided pursuant to divisions (E) (5), (6), and (7) of
this section.  Divisions (E) (1) and (2) of this section do not create any
obligation to repay or return payments made by the corporation pursuant to
division (E) (5), (6), or (7).

	 (9)     As used in division (E) of this section, "corporation"
includes all constituent entities in a consolidation or merger and the new or
surviving corporation, so that any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee, trustee, member, manager, or agent of such a constituent entity, or
is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director,
trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation,
domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company,
or a


				 10

<PAGE>   11


partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, shall stand in the
same position under this section with respect to the new or surviving
corporation as he would if he had served the new or surviving corporation in
the same capacity.

	 The Registrant has purchased insurance coverage under a policy which
insures directors and officers against certain liabilities which might be
incurred by them in such capacity.


Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
---------------------------------------------

	 Not Applicable.


Item 8.  Exhibits.
------------------

	 See the Index to Exhibits attached hereto at pages 15-16.


Item 9. Undertakings.
---------------------

A.      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

	(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
	    made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

		(i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10 (a) (3)
		      of the Securities Act of 1933;

		(ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
		      arising after the effective date of the Registration
		      Statement (or the most recent post-effective
		      amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
		      aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
		      information set forth in the Registration Statement; and


		(iii) To include any material information with respect
		      to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
		      in the Registration Statement or any material
		      change to such information in the Registration
		      Statement;

	provided, however, that paragraphs A (1) (i) and A (1) (ii) do not
	apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
	amendment by those


				 11

<PAGE>  12


	paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished
	to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
	15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated
	by reference in the Registration Statement.

	(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
	    Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall
	    be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
	    securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
	    at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
	    thereof.

	(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
	    any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
	    termination of the offering.

B.      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13 (a) or Section 15 (d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

C.      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 of
this Part II, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.



				 12

<PAGE>  13





				  SIGNATURES


    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Fairfield, State of Ohio, on the 3rd day of August,
2000.



					 OHIO CASUALTY CORPORATION




					 By: ____________________________

					     William L. Woodall, President and
						  Chief Executive Officer



	Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on the following page by the persons
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:




				 13


<PAGE>  14



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Signature                          Title                                 Date
---------                          -----                                 ----

<S>                        <C>                                         <C>


/s/ William L. Woodall
----------------------
William L. Woodall          President and Chief Executive Officer,      August 3, 2000
			      Director


* Elizabeth M. Riczko
---------------------
Elizabeth M. Riczko         Senior Vice President, Finance              August 3, 2000



* Howard L. Sloneker III
------------------------
Howard L. Sloneker III      Sr. Vice President and Secretary;           August 3, 2000
			      Director

* Terrence J. Baehr
-------------------
Terrence J. Baehr           Director                                    August 3, 2000



* Arthur S. Bennert
-------------------
Arthur S. Bennert           Director                                    August 3, 2000



* Jack E. Brown
---------------
Jack E. Brown               Director                                    August 3, 2000



* Catherine E. Dolan
--------------------
Catherine E. Dolan          Director                                    August 3, 2000



* Wayne R. Embry
----------------
Wayne R. Embry              Director                                    August 3, 2000



* Vaden Fitton
--------------
Vaden Fitton                Director                                    August 3, 2000



* Stephen S. Marcum
-------------------
Stephen S. Marcum           Director                                    August 3, 2000



* Stanley N. Pontius
--------------------
Stanley N. Pontius          Director                                    August 3, 2000


* Pursuant to Power of Attorney



------------------
William L. Woodall

(Attorney-in-Fact)


</TABLE>



				 14

<PAGE>   15


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

			INDEX TO EXHIBITS
			-----------------

Exhibit No.              Description                            Location
-----------              -----------                            --------

<S>              <C>                                    <C>


4 (a)            Certificate of Amended Articles        Incorporated by reference to
		 of Incorporation of Ohio Casualty      Exhibit 4(a) of the Registrant's
		 Corporation (the "Registrant") as      Current Report on Form 8-K filed
		 filed with the Ohio Secretary of       with the Securities and Exchange
		 State on May 25, 1983                  Commission on December 15, 1998


4 (b)            Certificate of Amendments to the       Incorporated by reference to
		 Articles of Incorporation of the       Exhibit 4(b) of the Registrant's
		 Registrant as filed with the Ohio      Current Report on Form 8-K filed
		 Secretary of State on November 21,     with the Securities and Exchange
		 1986                                   Commission on December 15, 1998


4 (c)            Certificate of Amendment to Amended    Incorporated by reference to
		 Articles of Incorporation of the       Exhibit 4(c) of the Registrant's
		 Registrant as filed with the Ohio      Current Report on Form 8-K filed
		 Secretary of State on April 29, 1992   with the Securities and Exchange
							Commission on December 15, 1998

4 (d)            Certificate of Amendment to Amended    Incorporated by reference to
		 Articles of Incorporation of the       Exhibit 4(d) of the Registrant's
		 Registrant as filed with the Ohio      Current Report on Form 8-K filed
		 Secretary of State on April 30,        with the Securities and Exchange
		 1996                                   Commission on December 15, 1998


4 (e)            Certificate of Amendment to Amended    Incorporated by reference to
		 Articles of Incorporation of the       Exhibit 4(e) of the Registrant's
		 Registrant as filed with the Ohio      Registration Statement on Form S-8
		 Secretary of State on May 10, 2000.    filed with the Securities and Exchange
							Commission on August 3, 2000 (SEC
                                                        Registration No. 333-42942)


4 (f)            Amended Articles of Incorporation      Incorporated by reference to
		 of the Registrant (reflecting          Exhibit 4(f) of the Registrant's
		 amendments through May 10, 2000)       Registration Statement on Form S-8
		 [for SEC reporting compliance          filed with the Securities and Exchange
		 purposes only, not filed with Ohio     Commission on August 3, 2000 (SEC
                 Secretary of State]                    Registration No. 333-42942)


</TABLE>


				 15

<PAGE>  16


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


				   INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.                Description                            Location
-----------                -----------                            --------

<S>              <C>                                    <C>


4 (g)            Code of Regulations of the             Incorporated by reference to
		 Registrant                             Exhibit 4(g) of the Registrant's
							current report on Form 8-K filed
							with the Securities and Exchange
							Commission on December 15, 1998


4 (h)            Certified resolution regarding         Incorporated by reference to
		 adoption of amendments to              Exhibit 4(h) of the Registrant's
		 Section 10 of Article 1 of the         Registration Statement on Form S-8
		 Code of Regulations of the             filed with the Securities and Exchange
		 Registrant, on April 26, 2000.         Commission on August 3, 2000 (SEC
                                                        Registration No. 333-42942)


4 (i)            Amended Code of Regulations of         Incorporated by reference to
		 the Registrant reflecting              Exhibit 4(i) of the Registrant's
		 amendments through April 26,           Registration Statement on Form S-8
		 2000. (For SEC reporting               filed with the Securities and Exchange
		 compliance purposes only).             Commission on August 3, 2000 (SEC
                                                        Registration No. 333-42942)


4 (j)            Amended and Restated Rights            Incorporated by reference to
		 Agreement, dated as of                 the Registrant's Form 8-A/A
		 February 19, 1998 between the          Amendment No. 3 dated February 19,
		 Registrant and First Chicago           1998 and filed with the Securities
		 Trust Company of New York as           and Exchange Commission on March 5,
		 Rights Agent                           1998


4 (k)            Certificate of Adjustment by           Incorporated by reference to
		 Ohio Casualty Corporation              Exhibit 9 of the Registrant's Form
		 dated as of July 1, 1999               8-A/A Amendment No. 4 dated July 1,
							1999 and filed with the Securities
							and Exchange Commission on
							July 2, 1999


23               Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers      Filed herewith.
		 LLP



24               Powers of Attorney                     Filed herewith.



</TABLE>

				 16
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "OHIO CASUALTY CORPORATION S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 41080}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "OHIO CASUALTY CORP", "cik": "0000073952", "assigned-sic": "6331", "irs-number": "310783294", "state-of-incorporation": "OH", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-42944", "film-number": "685321"}, "business-address": {"street1": "9450 SEWARD ROAD", "city": "FAIRFIELD", "state": "OH", "zip": "45014", "phone": "5136032600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "9450 SEWARD ROAD", "city": "FAIRFIELD", "state": "OH", "zip": "45014"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2000
		      Registration No. 333-_______________
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

			     UNITED STATES
		  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
		       Washington, D.C.  20549

	       _________________________________________

			      FORM S-8

	REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
	       _________________________________________

		      OHIO CASUALTY CORPORATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

	 Ohio                                        31-0783294
---------------------                           -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                   (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                  Identification No.)

9450 Seward Road, Fairfield, Ohio                     45014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)            (Zip Code)

	  Stock Option Agreements, effective as of March 23, 2000
      between Ohio Casualty Corporation and each of Terrence J. Baehr,
   Arthur J. Bennert, Jack E. Brown, Catherine E. Dolan, Wayne R. Embry,
	  Vaden Fitton, Stephen S. Marcum, Stanley N. Pontius,
	      Howard L. Sloneker III and William L. Woodall
	      ---------------------------------------------
		       (Full title of the plans)

			 Howard L. Sloneker III
		  Senior Vice President and Secretary
		       Ohio Casualty Corporation
			   9450 Seward Road
			Fairfield, Ohio 45014
			---------------------
	      (Name and address of agent for service)

			   (513) 603-2600
			   ---------------
      (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
		     ___________________________

		 Index to Exhibits at pages 15-16.
2

					      [Continuation of Facing Page]
Calculation of Registration Fee

				    Proposed        Proposed
  Title of                          maximum         maximum
 securities          Amount         offering        aggregate      Amount of
   to be             to be           price          offering      registration
 registered        registered      per share(1)     price(1)          fee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Shares,      165,000          $9.0625        $1,495,313       $394.76
$.125 Par Value(2)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the aggregate offering
price and the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457 (c) and (h) promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and computed on the basis of
$9.0625 per share, which price is the average of the high and low sales prices
of the Common Shares as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on August 2,
2000.

(2)  This Registration Statement also covers related Common Share Purchase
Rights (the "Rights") which evidence the right to purchase, under certain
conditions, one Common Share, $.125 par value.  Registrant is required to
deliver one-half of one Right with each Common Share that becomes outstanding
until the "distribution date" (as defined in the Amended and Restated Rights
Agreement dated as of February 18, 1998 between the Registrant and First
Chicago Trust Company of New York as Rights Agent) for the Rights, at which
date the Rights will commence trading separately from the Common Shares.

				  2
3

				  Part II

	     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
--------------------------------------------------

	  The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999, of Ohio Casualty Corporation (the "Registrant") and all other reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 (a) or Section 15 (d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), since that date are
hereby incorporated by reference.

	  The description of the Registrant's Common Shares contained in the
Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December
15, 1998, and the description of the Common Share Purchase Rights of the
Registrant contained in the Registrant's Form 8-A/A Amendment No. 4 filed with
the Commission on July 2, 1999, or contained in any subsequent amendment or
report filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions, are hereby
incorporated by reference.

	  Any definitive proxy statement or information statement filed
pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and all documents which may be
filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 (d) of the Exchange
Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the completion of the offering
contemplated hereby, shall also be deemed to be incorporated herein by
reference and to be made a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents; provided, however, that no report of the Executive Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Registrant on executive
compensation and no performance graph included in any proxy statement or
information statement filed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act shall
be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4.   Description of Securities.
------------------------------------

		Not Applicable.

Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
-------------------------------------------------

		Not Applicable.

				  3
4

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
---------------------------------------------------

	 Article V of the Regulations of the Registrant governs the
indemnification of officers and directors of the Registrant.  Article V
provides:

	 Section 1.   Mandatory Indemnification.  The corporation shall
indemnify (A) any officer or director of the corporation and (B) any person
(including an officer or director of the corporation) who has served or is
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee or officer of
another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit),
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or
investigative (including, without limitation, any action threatened or
instituted by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that
he is or was a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation (domestic
or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture, trust, or
other enterprise, against expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys'
fees, filing fees, court reporters' fees and transcript costs), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him
in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  A
person claiming indemnification under this Section 1 shall be presumed in
respect of any act or omission giving rise to such claim for indemnification,
to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any
criminal matter, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful, and the termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, rebut such presumption.

	 Section 2.   Court-Approved Indemnification.  Anything contained in
the Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding:

	 (A)   the corporation shall not indemnify (i) any officer or director
of the corporation, or (ii) any person (including an officer or director of
the corporation) who has served or is serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, trustee or officer of another corporation (domestic
or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise who was a party to any completed action or suit instituted by
or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation (domestic
or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, in respect of any claim, issue or matter asserted in such
action or suit as to which he shall have been adjudged to be liable for gross

				  4
5

negligence or misconduct (other than negligence) in the performance of his
duty to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Common
Pleas of Butler County, Ohio or the court in which such action or suit was
brought shall determine upon application that despite such adjudication of
liability, and in view of all the circumstances of the case, he is fairly and
reasonably entitled to such indemnity as such Court of Common Pleas or such
other court shall deem proper; and

	 (B)   the corporation shall promptly make any such unpaid
indemnification as is determined by a court to be proper as contemplated by
this Section 2.

	 Section 3.   Indemnification for Expenses.  Anything contained in the
Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent that
an officer or director of the corporation or any person (including an officer
or director of the corporation) who has served or is serving at the request of
the corporation as a director, trustee or officer of another corporation
(domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1, or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be promptly
indemnified by the corporation against expenses (including, without
limitation, attorneys' fees, filing fees, court reporters' fees and transcript
costs) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

	 Section 4.   Determination Required.  Any indemnification required
under Section 1 and not precluded under Section 2 shall be made by the
corporation only upon a determination that such indemnification is proper in
the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of
conduct set forth in Section 1.  Such determination may be made only (A) by a
majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of the corporation who were
not and are not parties to, or threatened with, any such action, suit or
proceeding or (B) if such a quorum is not obtainable or if a majority of a
quorum of disinterested directors so directs, in a written opinion by
independent legal counsel other than an attorney, or a firm having associated
with it an attorney, who has been retained by or who has performed services
for the corporation, or any person to be indemnified, within the past five
years or (C) by the shareholders or (D) by the Court of Common Pleas of Butler
County, Ohio or (if the corporation is a party thereto) the court in which
such action, suit or proceeding was brought, if any; any such determination
may be made by a court under subparagraph (D) of this Section at any time
(including, without limitation, any time before, during or after the time when
any such determination may be requested of, be under consideration by or have
been denied or disregarded by the disinterested directors under subparagraph
(A) or by independent legal counsel under subparagraph (B) or by the
shareholders under subparagraph (C) of this Section); and no failure for any
reason to make any such determination, and no decision for any reason to deny
any such determination, by the disinterested directors under subparagraph (A)
or by independent legal counsel under subparagraph (B) or by shareholders
under subparagraph (C) of this Section shall be evidence in rebuttal of the
presumption recited in Section 1.  Any determination made by the disinterested
directors under subparagraph (A) of this Section

				  5
6

or by independent legal counsel under subparagraph (B) of this Section to make
indemnification in respect of any claim, issue or matter asserted in an action
or suit threatened or brought by or in the right of the corporation shall be
promptly communicated to the person who threatened or brought such action or
suit, and within ten (10) days after receipt of such notification such person
shall have the right to petition the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County,
Ohio or the court in which such action or suit was brought, if any, to review
the reasonableness of such determination.

	 Section 5.   Advances for Expenses.  Expenses (including, without
limitation, attorneys' fees, filing fees, court reporters' fees and transcript
costs) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding referred to in
Section 1 shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition
of such action, suit or proceeding to or on behalf of the officer, Director or
other person entitled to indemnity under Section 1 promptly as such expenses
are incurred by him, but only if such officer, Director or other person shall
first agree, in writing, to repay all amounts so paid in respect of any claim,
issue or other matter asserted in such action, suit or proceeding in defense
of which he shall not have been successful on the merits or otherwise:

	 (A)  unless it shall ultimately be determined as provided in Section
4 that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as provided
under Section 1; or

	 (B)  if, in respect of any claim, issue or other matter asserted by
or in the right of the corporation in such action or suit, he shall have been
adjudged to be liable for gross negligence or misconduct (other than
negligence) in the performance of his duty to the corporation, unless and only
to the extent that the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County, Ohio or the
court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon
application that, despite such adjudication of liability, and in view of all
the circumstances, he is fairly and reasonably entitled to all or part of such
indemnification.

	 Section 6.   Article V Not Exclusive.  The indemnification provided
by this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which
any person seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Articles or the
Regulations or any agreement, vote of shareholders of the corporation or
disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in his official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and
shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be an officer or director of
the corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and
administrators of such a person.

	 Section 7.   Insurance.  The corporation may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of
the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of another
corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint
venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against
him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as
such,

				  6
7

whether or not the corporation would have the obligation or the power to
indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article V.

	 Section 8.   Certain Definitions.  For purposes of this Article V,
and as examples and not by way of limitation:

	 (A)     A person claiming indemnification under this Article V
shall be deemed to have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense
of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1, or in defense of
any claim, issue or other matter therein, if such action, suit or proceeding
shall be terminated as to such person, with or without prejudice, without the
entry of a judgment or order against him, without a conviction of him, without
the imposition of a fine upon him, and without his payment or agreement to pay
any amount in settlement thereof (whether or not any such termination is based
upon a judicial or other determination of lack of merit of the claims made
against him or otherwise results in a vindication of him); and

	 (B)     References to an "other enterprise" shall include employee
benefit plans; references to a "fine" shall include any excise taxes assessed
on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to
"serving at the request of the corporation" shall include any service as a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties
on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with
respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a
person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee
benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the
best interest of the corporation" within the meaning of that term as used in
this Article V.

	 Section 9.   Venue.  Any action, suit or proceeding to determine a
claim for indemnification under this Article V may be maintained by the person
claiming such indemnification, or by the corporation, in the Court of Common
Pleas of Butler County, Ohio.  The corporation and (by claiming such
indemnification) each such person consent to the exercise of jurisdiction over
its or his person by the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County, Ohio in any
such action, suit or proceeding.

	 Division (E) of Section 1701.13 of the Ohio Revised Code addresses
indemnification by an Ohio corporation and provides as follows:

	 (E) (1) A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any
threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than an action by or in the
right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member,
manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or
for profit, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture,
trust, or other

				  7
8

enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines,
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with such action, suit, or proceeding, if he acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, if he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not
act in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, he had reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.

	 (2)     A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any
threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, by reason of the fact that he
is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or
was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer,
employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or
foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a
partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses,
including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall
be made in respect of any of the following:

	 (a)     Any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person is
adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his
duty to the corporation unless, and only to the extent that, the court of
common pleas or the court in which such action or suit was brought determines,
upon application, that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of
all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court of common pleas or such
other court shall deem proper;

	 (b)     Any action or suit in which the only liability asserted
against a director is pursuant to section 1701.95 of the Revised Code.

	 (3)     To the extent that a director, trustee, officer, employee,
member, manager, or agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E) (1) or
(2) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, he
shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding.

	 (4)     Any indemnification under division (E) (1) or (2) of this
section, unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the corporation only as
authorized in the

				  8
9

specific case, upon a determination that indemnification of the director,
trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth
in division (E) (1) or (2) of this section.  Such determination shall be
made as follows:

	 (a)     By a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of
the indemnifying corporation who were not and are not parties to or threatened
with the action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E) (1) or (2) of
this section;

	 (b)     If the quorum described in division (E) (4) (a) of this
section is not obtainable or if a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested
directors so directs, in a written opinion by independent legal counsel other
than an attorney, or a firm having associated with it an attorney, who has
been retained by or who has performed services for the corporation or any
person to be indemnified within the past five years;

	 (c)     By the shareholders;

	 (d)     By the court of common pleas or the court in which the
action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E) (1) or (2) of this
section was brought.

	 Any determination made by the disinterested directors under division
(E) (4) (a) or by independent legal counsel under division (E) (4) (b) of this
section shall be promptly communicated to the person who threatened or brought
the action or suit by or in the right of the corporation under division (E)
(2) of this section, and, within ten days after receipt of such notification,
such person shall have the right to petition the court of common pleas or the
court in which such action or suit was brought to review the reasonableness of
such determination.

	 (5) (a) Unless at the time of a director's act or omission that is
the subject of an action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E) (1)
or (2) of this section, the articles or the regulations of a corporation
state, by specific reference to this division, that the provisions of this
division do not apply to the corporation and unless the only liability
asserted against a director in an action, suit, or proceeding referred to in
division (E) (1) or (2) of this section is pursuant to section 1701.95 of the
Revised Code, expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a director in
defending the action, suit, or proceeding shall be paid by the corporation as
they are incurred, in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or
proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director in
which he agrees to do both of the following:

	 (i)     Repay such amount if it is proved by clear and convincing
evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that his action or failure to
act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause
injury to the corporation or undertaken with reckless disregard for the best
interests of the corporation;

				  9
10

	 (ii)    Reasonably cooperate with the corporation concerning the
action, suit, or proceeding.

	 (b)     Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a
director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent in defending
any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E) (1) or (2) of this
section, may be paid by the corporation as they are incurred, in advance of
the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, as authorized by the
directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf
of the director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent to
repay such amount, if it ultimately is determined that he is not entitled to
be indemnified by the corporation.

	 (6)     The indemnification authorized by this section shall not
be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other rights granted to
those seeking indemnification  under the articles, the regulations, any
agreement, a vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise,
both as to action in their official capacities and as to action in another
capacity while holding their offices or positions, and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, employee, member,
manager, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and
administrators of such a person.

	 (7)     A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or
furnish similar protection, including, but not limited to, trust funds,
letters of credit, or self-insurance, on behalf of or for any person who is or
was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer,
employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or
foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a
partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability
asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out
of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify him against such liability under this section. Insurance may be
purchased from or maintained with a person in which the corporation has a
financial interest.

	 (8)     The authority of a corporation to indemnify persons
pursuant to division (E) (1) or (2) of this section does not limit the payment
of expenses as they are incurred, indemnification, insurance, or other
protection that may be provided pursuant to divisions (E) (5), (6), and (7) of
this section.  Divisions (E) (1) and (2) of this section do not create any
obligation to repay or return payments made by the corporation pursuant to
division (E) (5), (6), or (7).

	 (9)     As used in division (E) of this section, "corporation"
includes all constituent entities in a consolidation or merger and the new or
surviving corporation, so that any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee, trustee, member, manager, or agent of such a constituent entity, or
is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director,
trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation,
domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company,
or a

				 10
11

partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, shall stand in the
same position under this section with respect to the new or surviving
corporation as he would if he had served the new or surviving corporation in
the same capacity.

	 The Registrant has purchased insurance coverage under a policy which
insures directors and officers against certain liabilities which might be
incurred by them in such capacity.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
---------------------------------------------

	 Not Applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.
------------------

	 See the Index to Exhibits attached hereto at pages 15-16.

Item 9. Undertakings.
---------------------

A.      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

	(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
	    made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

		(i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10 (a) (3)
		      of the Securities Act of 1933;

		(ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
		      arising after the effective date of the Registration
		      Statement (or the most recent post-effective
		      amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
		      aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
		      information set forth in the Registration Statement; and

		(iii) To include any material information with respect
		      to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
		      in the Registration Statement or any material
		      change to such information in the Registration
		      Statement;

	provided, however, that paragraphs A (1) (i) and A (1) (ii) do not
	apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
	amendment by those

				 11
12

	paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished
	to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
	15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated
	by reference in the Registration Statement.

	(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
	    Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall
	    be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
	    securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
	    at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
	    thereof.

	(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
	    any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
	    termination of the offering.

B.      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13 (a) or Section 15 (d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

C.      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 of
this Part II, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.

				 12
13

				  SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Fairfield, State of Ohio, on the 3rd day of August,
2000.

					 OHIO CASUALTY CORPORATION

					 By: ____________________________

					     William L. Woodall, President and
						  Chief Executive Officer

	Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on the following page by the persons
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

				 13
14
Signature                          Title                                 Date
---------                          -----                                 ----
/s/ William L. Woodall
----------------------
William L. Woodall          President and Chief Executive Officer,      August 3, 2000
			      Director

* Elizabeth M. Riczko
---------------------
Elizabeth M. Riczko         Senior Vice President, Finance              August 3, 2000

* Howard L. Sloneker III
------------------------
Howard L. Sloneker III      Sr. Vice President and Secretary;           August 3, 2000
			      Director

* Terrence J. Baehr
-------------------
Terrence J. Baehr           Director                                    August 3, 2000

* Arthur S. Bennert
-------------------
Arthur S. Bennert           Director                                    August 3, 2000

* Jack E. Brown
---------------
Jack E. Brown               Director                                    August 3, 2000

* Catherine E. Dolan
--------------------
Catherine E. Dolan          Director                                    August 3, 2000

* Wayne R. Embry
----------------
Wayne R. Embry              Director                                    August 3, 2000

* Vaden Fitton
--------------
Vaden Fitton                Director                                    August 3, 2000

* Stephen S. Marcum
-------------------
Stephen S. Marcum           Director                                    August 3, 2000

* Stanley N. Pontius
--------------------
Stanley N. Pontius          Director                                    August 3, 2000

* Pursuant to Power of Attorney

------------------
William L. Woodall

(Attorney-in-Fact)
14
15
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
			-----------------

Exhibit No.              Description                            Location
-----------              -----------                            --------
4 (a)            Certificate of Amended Articles        Incorporated by reference to
		 of Incorporation of Ohio Casualty      Exhibit 4(a) of the Registrant's
		 Corporation (the "Registrant") as      Current Report on Form 8-K filed
		 filed with the Ohio Secretary of       with the Securities and Exchange
		 State on May 25, 1983                  Commission on December 15, 1998

4 (b)            Certificate of Amendments to the       Incorporated by reference to
		 Articles of Incorporation of the       Exhibit 4(b) of the Registrant's
		 Registrant as filed with the Ohio      Current Report on Form 8-K filed
		 Secretary of State on November 21,     with the Securities and Exchange
		 1986                                   Commission on December 15, 1998

4 (c)            Certificate of Amendment to Amended    Incorporated by reference to
		 Articles of Incorporation of the       Exhibit 4(c) of the Registrant's
		 Registrant as filed with the Ohio      Current Report on Form 8-K filed
		 Secretary of State on April 29, 1992   with the Securities and Exchange
							Commission on December 15, 1998

4 (d)            Certificate of Amendment to Amended    Incorporated by reference to
		 Articles of Incorporation of the       Exhibit 4(d) of the Registrant's
		 Registrant as filed with the Ohio      Current Report on Form 8-K filed
		 Secretary of State on April 30,        with the Securities and Exchange
		 1996                                   Commission on December 15, 1998

4 (e)            Certificate of Amendment to Amended    Incorporated by reference to
		 Articles of Incorporation of the       Exhibit 4(e) of the Registrant's
		 Registrant as filed with the Ohio      Registration Statement on Form S-8
		 Secretary of State on May 10, 2000.    filed with the Securities and Exchange
							Commission on August 3, 2000 (SEC
                                                        Registration No. 333-42942)

4 (f)            Amended Articles of Incorporation      Incorporated by reference to
		 of the Registrant (reflecting          Exhibit 4(f) of the Registrant's
		 amendments through May 10, 2000)       Registration Statement on Form S-8
		 [for SEC reporting compliance          filed with the Securities and Exchange
		 purposes only, not filed with Ohio     Commission on August 3, 2000 (SEC
                 Secretary of State]                    Registration No. 333-42942)
15
16
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.                Description                            Location
-----------                -----------                            --------
4 (g)            Code of Regulations of the             Incorporated by reference to
		 Registrant                             Exhibit 4(g) of the Registrant's
							current report on Form 8-K filed
							with the Securities and Exchange
							Commission on December 15, 1998

4 (h)            Certified resolution regarding         Incorporated by reference to
		 adoption of amendments to              Exhibit 4(h) of the Registrant's
		 Section 10 of Article 1 of the         Registration Statement on Form S-8
		 Code of Regulations of the             filed with the Securities and Exchange
		 Registrant, on April 26, 2000.         Commission on August 3, 2000 (SEC
                                                        Registration No. 333-42942)

4 (i)            Amended Code of Regulations of         Incorporated by reference to
		 the Registrant reflecting              Exhibit 4(i) of the Registrant's
		 amendments through April 26,           Registration Statement on Form S-8
		 2000. (For SEC reporting               filed with the Securities and Exchange
		 compliance purposes only).             Commission on August 3, 2000 (SEC
                                                        Registration No. 333-42942)

4 (j)            Amended and Restated Rights            Incorporated by reference to
		 Agreement, dated as of                 the Registrant's Form 8-A/A
		 February 19, 1998 between the          Amendment No. 3 dated February 19,
		 Registrant and First Chicago           1998 and filed with the Securities
		 Trust Company of New York as           and Exchange Commission on March 5,
		 Rights Agent                           1998

4 (k)            Certificate of Adjustment by           Incorporated by reference to
		 Ohio Casualty Corporation              Exhibit 9 of the Registrant's Form
		 dated as of July 1, 1999               8-A/A Amendment No. 4 dated July 1,
							1999 and filed with the Securities
							and Exchange Commission on
							July 2, 1999

23               Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers      Filed herewith.
		 LLP

24               Powers of Attorney                     Filed herewith.
16