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<TITLE>CenturyTel, Inc. Form S-8</TITLE>
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<font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="CENTER">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May
11, 2001. Registration No. 333-______</p>
</font>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>
<b>
<p align="center">UNITED STATES<br>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<font SIZE="2"><br>
Washington, D.C. 20549</p>
</font></b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font SIZE="2">__________</p>
</font></b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font SIZE="5">FORM S-8<br>
</font>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<br>
UNDER<br>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><b>__________</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font SIZE="4">CenturyTel, Inc.</font></b><font SIZE="2"><i><br>
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</p>
</i></font>
<table border="0" width="100%">
  <tr>
    <td width="50%">
      <p align="center"><font SIZE="2"><b>Louisiana<br>
      </b><i>(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) </i></font></td>
    <td width="50%">
      <p align="center"><font SIZE="2"><b>72-0651161<br>
      </b><i>(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</i></font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="100%" colspan="2"><br>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="100%" colspan="2">
      <p align="center"><font size="2"><b>100 CenturyTel Drive Monroe, Louisiana</b>
      <b>71203<br>
      </b><i>(Address, including zip code, of</i> </font><i><font size="2">Principal
      Executive Offices)</font></i></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2"><b>&nbsp;</b></font><b><font SIZE="2">CenturyTel
2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan</font></b><font SIZE="2"><i><br>
(Full title of the plan)</p>
</i></font>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><font SIZE="2">__________</p>
</font>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font SIZE="2">Harvey P. Perry<br>
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer,<br>
General Counsel and Secretary<br>
CenturyTel, Inc.<br>
100 CenturyTel Drive<br>
Monroe, Louisiana 71203<br>
(318) 388-9000</font></b><font SIZE="2"><i><br>
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,<br>
including area code, of agent for service)</p>
</i></font>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><font SIZE="2">Copy to:</font><b><font SIZE="2"><br>
Margaret F. Murphy<br>
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere &amp; Denegre, L.L.P.<br>
201 St. Charles Avenue<br>
New Orleans, Louisiana 70170-5100</p>
</font></b><font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</p>
</b></font>
<div align="left">
  <table BORDER="1" CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="2" WIDTH="100%" height="134">
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="25%" HEIGHT="50">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER"><font size="2">Title of securities<br>
        to be registered</font></td>
      <td WIDTH="18%" HEIGHT="50"><font SIZE="2">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">Amount</font> <font SIZE="2">to be</font> <font SIZE="2">registered<sup>(1)</sup></font></td>
      <td WIDTH="19%" HEIGHT="50"><font SIZE="2">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">Proposed maximum</font> <font SIZE="2">offering price</font>
        <font SIZE="2">per share</font></td>
      <td WIDTH="20%" HEIGHT="50"><font SIZE="2">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">Proposed maximum</font> <font SIZE="2">aggregate</font>
        <font SIZE="2">offering price</font></td>
      <td WIDTH="17%" HEIGHT="50"><font SIZE="2">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">Amount of</font> <font SIZE="2">registration</font> <font SIZE="2">fee</font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="25%" HEIGHT="30"><font SIZE="2">
        <p>Common Stock,<br>
        $1 par value per share</font></p>
      </td>
      <td WIDTH="18%" HEIGHT="30"><font SIZE="2">
        <p ALIGN="RIGHT">5,000,000 Shares</font></td>
      <td WIDTH="19%" HEIGHT="30"><font SIZE="2">
        <p ALIGN="RIGHT">$27.49<sup>(2)</sup></font></td>
      <td WIDTH="20%" HEIGHT="30"><font SIZE="2">
        <p ALIGN="RIGHT">$137,450,000<sup>(2)</sup></font></td>
      <td WIDTH="17%" HEIGHT="30"><font SIZE="2">
        <p ALIGN="RIGHT">$34,362.50<sup>(2)</sup></font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="25%" HEIGHT="30"><font SIZE="2">
        <p>Preference Share Purchase Rights</p>
        </font></td>
      <td WIDTH="18%" HEIGHT="30"><font SIZE="2">
        <p ALIGN="RIGHT">5,000,000 Rights</font></td>
      <td WIDTH="19%" HEIGHT="30"><font SIZE="2">
        <p align="right">- <sup>(3)</sup></font></td>
      <td WIDTH="20%" HEIGHT="30"><font SIZE="2">
        <p align="right">- <sup>(3)</sup></font></td>
      <td WIDTH="17%" HEIGHT="30"><font SIZE="2">
        <p align="right">- <sup>(3)</sup></font></td>
    </tr>
  </TABLE>
</div>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font SIZE="1">(1) Upon a future stock split, stock dividend
or similar transaction involving Common Stock of the Company and during the
effectiveness of this Registration Statement, the number of securities
registered shall be automatically increased to cover the additional securities
in accordance with Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933.</p>
<p>(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based on the average
of the high and low price per share of the Common Stock on the Composite Tape
for New York Stock Exchange-Listed Stocks on May 9, 2001.</p>
<p>(3) Preference Share Purchase Rights are attached to and trade with the
Common Stock of the Company. The value attributable to such Rights, if any, is
reflected in the market price of such Common Stock. Because no separate
consideration is paid for such Rights, the registration fee for such securities
is included in the fee for such Common Stock.</p>
</font>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">PART I</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">Not Applicable.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">PART II</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</p>
<p>Item 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Incorporation of
Documents by Reference.</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
following documents, which have been filed by CenturyTel, Inc. (the
&quot;Company&quot;) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
&quot;Commission&quot;), are incorporated herein by reference:</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;);</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the
quarter ended March 31, 2001 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated
January 30, 2001 and filed on February 7, 2001 pursuant to Section 13 of the
Exchange Act;</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated April
26, 2001 and filed May 10, 2001 pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(e)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The description of the Common Stock of the Company
included in Amendment No. 2 on Form 8-A/A to the Registration Statement on Form
8-A of the Company filed on November 19, 1999 under the Exchange Act relating to
the Common Stock of the Company; and</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(f)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The description of the Preference Share Purchase Rights of
the Company included in Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A to the Registration
Statement on Form 8-A of the Company filed on November 19, 1999 under the
Exchange Act relating to the Preference Share Purchase Rights of the Company.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All
documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
hereto that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall, except to the extent
otherwise provided by Regulation S-K or any other rule promulgated by the
Commission, be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statements contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any other document subsequently filed or
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.</p>
<b>
<p>Item 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Description of
Securities.</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not
applicable.</p>
<b>
<p>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interests of Named
Experts and Counsel.</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not
applicable.</p>
<b>
<p>Item 6.</b> <b>&nbsp;&nbsp; </b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Indemnification
of Directors and Officers.</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Section 83
of the Louisiana Business Corporation Law provides in part that the Company may
indemnify any of its directors, officers, employees or agents against expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any action, suit or
proceeding to which he is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party
(including any action by or in the right of the Company) if such action arises
out of his acts on the Company's behalf, and he acted in good faith not
opposed to the Companys best interests, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. The Company has the power to obtain and maintain insurance, or to
create a form of self-insurance, on behalf of any person who is or was acting
for the Company, regardless of whether the Company has the legal authority to
indemnify the insured person against such liability.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Article
II, Section 10 of the Company's by-laws (the &quot;indemnification
by-law&quot;) provides for mandatory indemnification for its current or former
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Louisiana law.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
Company's Articles of Incorporation authorize the Company to enter into
contracts with its directors and officers providing for indemnification to the
fullest extent permitted by law. The Company has entered into indemnification
contracts providing its directors and officers the procedural and substantive
rights to indemnification currently set forth in the indemnification by-law
(&quot;indemnification contracts&quot;). The right to indemnification provided
by an indemnification contract applies to all covered claims, whether such
claims arose before or after the effective date of the contract.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
Company maintains an insurance policy covering the liability of its directors
and officers for actions taken in their official capacity. The indemnification
contracts provide that, to the extent insurance is reasonably available, the
Company will maintain comparable insurance coverage for each contracting party
as long as he serves as an officer or director and thereafter for so long as he
is subject to possible personal liability for actions taken in such capacities.
The indemnification contracts also provide that if the Company does not maintain
comparable insurance, the Company will hold harmless and indemnify a contracting
party to the full extent of the coverage that would otherwise have been provided
for his benefit.</p>
<b>
<p>Item
7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Exemption From Registration Claimed.</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not
applicable.</p>
<b>
<p>Item 8.</b> <b>&nbsp;&nbsp; </b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<b>Exhibits.</p>
</b>
<table border="0" width="100%">
  <tr>
    <td valign="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </td>
    <td valign="top">5&nbsp;&nbsp; </td>
    <td>Opinion of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere &amp; Denegre,
      L.L.P.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td valign="top"></td>
    <td valign="top">23.1&nbsp;&nbsp; </td>
    <td>Consent of KPMG LLP.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td valign="top"></td>
    <td valign="top">23.2&nbsp;&nbsp; </td>
    <td>Consent of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere &amp; Denegre,
      L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5).</td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<b>
<p>Item 9.</b> <b>&nbsp;&nbsp; </b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<b>Undertakings.</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement 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.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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 (and, where applicable, each filing
of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to 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.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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 foregoing provisions, 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
proceedings) 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 of 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.</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">SIGNATURES</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that
it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all 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
Monroe, State of Louisiana, on May 10,2001.</p>
<div align="right">
  <table border="0" width="100%">
    <tr>
      <td width="50%"></td>
      <td width="50%">CENTURYTEL, INC.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="50%"></td>
      <td width="50%">By: <u>&nbsp;&nbsp; Glen F. Post,
        III&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
        <br>
        </u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
        Glen F. Post, III<br>
        &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vice Chairman of the
        Board,<br>
        President and Chief Executive Officer</td>
    </tr>
  </TABLE>
</div>
<font SIZE="2"></font><b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">POWER OF ATTORNEY</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears below constitutes
and appoints Clarke M. Williams, Glen F. Post, III, and Harvey P. Perry, or any
one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and ratifying
and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.</p>
<table CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" WIDTH="624">
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Signature</u></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Title</u></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Date</u></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26">
      <p><font SIZE="2"><u><br>
      &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      Clarke M. Williams</p>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2"></font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">
      Director and Chairman of the Board</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2"></font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">
      May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S GLEN F. POST,
      III&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      Glen F. Post, III</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director, Vice Chairman of the Board, President and
      Chief Executive Officer<br>
      (Principal Executive Officer)</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /S/ R.
      STEWART EWING,
      JR.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Executive Vice President and<br>
      Chief Financial Officer<br>
      (Principal Financial Officer and<br>
      Principal Accounting Officer)</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</font>May 10, 2001</p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><u><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ HARVEY P.
      PERRY&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      Harvey P. Perry</p>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director, Executive Vice President,<br>
      Chief Administrative Officer,<br>
      General Counsel and Secretary</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2"></font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ WILLIAM R. BOLES, JR.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      William R. Boles, Jr.</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2"></font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2"></font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ VIRGINIA BOULET&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      Virginia Boulet
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ ERNEST BUTLER,
      JR.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      Ernest Butler, Jr.</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ CALVIN CZESCHIN&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      Calvin Czeschin</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      James B. Gardner</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ W. BRUCE
      HANKS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      W. Bruce Hanks</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ R.L. HARGROVE,
      JR.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u></font><br>
      &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      R.L. Hargrove, Jr.</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ JOHNNY
      HEBERT&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      Johnny Hebert</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ F. EARL
      HOGAN&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      F. Earl Hogan</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ C.G. MELVILLE,
      JR.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u></font><br>
      &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      C.G. Melville, Jr.</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      /S/ JIM D. REPPOND&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <br>
      </u></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      Jim D. Reppond</td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">Director</td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
      </font>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER">May 10, 2001</td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>

</body>

</HTML>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "cenforms851101.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 31055}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CENTURYTEL INC", "cik": "0000018926", "assigned-sic": "4813", "irs-number": "720651161", "state-of-incorporation": "LA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-60806", "film-number": "1631085"}, "business-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 4065", "street2": "100 CENTURY PARK DR", "city": "MONROE", "state": "LA", "zip": "71203", "phone": "3183889000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "100 CENTURY PARK DR", "street2": "P O BOX 4065", "city": "MONROE", "state": "LA", "zip": "71203"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}, {"former-conformed-name": "CENTRAL TELEPHONE & ELECTRONICS CORP", "date-changed": "19720512"}]}
CenturyTel, Inc. Form S-8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May
11, 2001. Registration No. 333-______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
__________
CenturyTel, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Louisiana
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
72-0651161
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
100 CenturyTel Drive Monroe, Louisiana
71203
(Address, including zip code, of
Principal
      Executive Offices)
CenturyTel
2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
(Full title of the plan)
__________
Harvey P. Perry
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer,
General Counsel and Secretary
CenturyTel, Inc.
100 CenturyTel Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71203
(318) 388-9000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Margaret F. Murphy
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P.
201 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70170-5100
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities
to be registered
Amount
to be
registered
(1)
Proposed maximum
offering price
per share
Proposed maximum
aggregate
offering price
Amount of
registration
fee
Common Stock,
$1 par value per share
5,000,000 Shares
$27.49
(2)
$137,450,000
(2)
$34,362.50
(2)
Preference Share Purchase Rights
5,000,000 Rights
-
(3)
-
(3)
-
(3)
(1) Upon a future stock split, stock dividend
or similar transaction involving Common Stock of the Company and during the
effectiveness of this Registration Statement, the number of securities
registered shall be automatically increased to cover the additional securities
in accordance with Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based on the average
of the high and low price per share of the Common Stock on the Composite Tape
for New York Stock Exchange-Listed Stocks on May 9, 2001.
(3) Preference Share Purchase Rights are attached to and trade with the
Common Stock of the Company. The value attributable to such Rights, if any, is
reflected in the market price of such Common Stock. Because no separate
consideration is paid for such Rights, the registration fee for such securities
is included in the fee for such Common Stock.
PART I
Not Applicable.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.         Incorporation of
Documents by Reference.
The
following documents, which have been filed by CenturyTel, Inc. (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), are incorporated herein by reference:
(a)    The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");
(b)    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the
quarter ended March 31, 2001 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;
(c)    The Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated
January 30, 2001 and filed on February 7, 2001 pursuant to Section 13 of the
Exchange Act;
(d)    The Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated April
26, 2001 and filed May 10, 2001 pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;
(e)    The description of the Common Stock of the Company
included in Amendment No. 2 on Form 8-A/A to the Registration Statement on Form
8-A of the Company filed on November 19, 1999 under the Exchange Act relating to
the Common Stock of the Company; and
(f)    The description of the Preference Share Purchase Rights of
the Company included in Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A to the Registration
Statement on Form 8-A of the Company filed on November 19, 1999 under the
Exchange Act relating to the Preference Share Purchase Rights of the Company.
All
documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
hereto that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall, except to the extent
otherwise provided by Regulation S-K or any other rule promulgated by the
Commission, be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statements contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any other document subsequently filed or
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4.         Description of
Securities.
Not
applicable.
Item 5.         Interests of Named
Experts and Counsel.
Not
applicable.
Item 6.
Indemnification
of Directors and Officers.
Section 83
of the Louisiana Business Corporation Law provides in part that the Company may
indemnify any of its directors, officers, employees or agents against expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any action, suit or
proceeding to which he is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party
(including any action by or in the right of the Company) if such action arises
out of his acts on the Company's behalf, and he acted in good faith not
opposed to the Companys best interests, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. The Company has the power to obtain and maintain insurance, or to
create a form of self-insurance, on behalf of any person who is or was acting
for the Company, regardless of whether the Company has the legal authority to
indemnify the insured person against such liability.
Article
II, Section 10 of the Company's by-laws (the "indemnification
by-law") provides for mandatory indemnification for its current or former
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Louisiana law.
The
Company's Articles of Incorporation authorize the Company to enter into
contracts with its directors and officers providing for indemnification to the
fullest extent permitted by law. The Company has entered into indemnification
contracts providing its directors and officers the procedural and substantive
rights to indemnification currently set forth in the indemnification by-law
("indemnification contracts"). The right to indemnification provided
by an indemnification contract applies to all covered claims, whether such
claims arose before or after the effective date of the contract.
The
Company maintains an insurance policy covering the liability of its directors
and officers for actions taken in their official capacity. The indemnification
contracts provide that, to the extent insurance is reasonably available, the
Company will maintain comparable insurance coverage for each contracting party
as long as he serves as an officer or director and thereafter for so long as he
is subject to possible personal liability for actions taken in such capacities.
The indemnification contracts also provide that if the Company does not maintain
comparable insurance, the Company will hold harmless and indemnify a contracting
party to the full extent of the coverage that would otherwise have been provided
for his benefit.
Item
7.            
Exemption From Registration Claimed.
Not
applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits.
5
Opinion of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre,
      L.L.P.
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2
Consent of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre,
      L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5).
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 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.
(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 (and, where applicable, each filing
of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to 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 foregoing provisions, 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
proceedings) 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 of 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.
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 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
Monroe, State of Louisiana, on May 10,2001.
CENTURYTEL, INC.
By:
Glen F. Post,
        III
Glen F. Post, III
Vice Chairman of the
        Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears below constitutes
and appoints Clarke M. Williams, Glen F. Post, III, and Harvey P. Perry, or any
one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and ratifying
and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
Clarke M. Williams
Director and Chairman of the Board
May 10, 2001
/S GLEN F. POST,
      III
Glen F. Post, III
Director, Vice Chairman of the Board, President and
      Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
May 10, 2001
/S/ R.
      STEWART EWING,
      JR.
R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)
May 10, 2001
/S/ HARVEY P.
      PERRY
Harvey P. Perry
Director, Executive Vice President,
Chief Administrative Officer,
General Counsel and Secretary
May 10, 2001
/S/ WILLIAM R. BOLES, JR.
William R. Boles, Jr.
Director
May 10, 2001
/S/ VIRGINIA BOULET
Virginia Boulet
Director
May 10, 2001
/S/ ERNEST BUTLER,
      JR.
Ernest Butler, Jr.
Director
May 10, 2001
/S/ CALVIN CZESCHIN
Calvin Czeschin
Director
May 10, 2001
James B. Gardner
Director
May 10, 2001
/S/ W. BRUCE
      HANKS
W. Bruce Hanks
Director
May 10, 2001
/S/ R.L. HARGROVE,
      JR.
R.L. Hargrove, Jr.
Director
May 10, 2001
/S/ JOHNNY
      HEBERT
Johnny Hebert
Director
May 10, 2001
/S/ F. EARL
      HOGAN
F. Earl Hogan
Director
May 10, 2001
/S/ C.G. MELVILLE,
      JR.
C.G. Melville, Jr.
Director
May 10, 2001
/S/ JIM D. REPPOND
Jim D. Reppond
Director
May 10, 2001