<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-03-012656
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030701
<FILING-DATE>20030702
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ROBINSON RUSSELL M II
<CIK>0001199786
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-20646
<FILM-NUMBER>03770936
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>101 NORTH TRYON STREET
<CITY>CHARLOTTE
<STATE>NC
<ZIP>28246
<PHONE>7043778311
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES INC
<CIK>0000825692
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2631
<IRS-NUMBER>581388387
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NC
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3100 JOE JERKINS BLVD
<CITY>AUSTELL
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30106
<PHONE>7709483101
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>P O BOX 115
<CITY>AUSTELL
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30168
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd12012.xml
<DESCRIPTION>3RD QUARTER RETAINER
<TEXT>
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            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
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<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
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<expirationDate>
<value>2009-05-03</value></expirationDate>
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<underlyingSecurityTitle>
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<underlyingSecurityShares>
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<value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
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<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>D.E.P. 1998 Options</value></securityTitle>
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<value>34.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
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<value>1998-04-30</value></transactionDate>
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<transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
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<underlyingSecurityTitle>
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<value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
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<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>D.E.P 1997 Options</value></securityTitle>
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<value>25.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
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<value>1997-04-30</value></transactionDate>
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<transactionShares>
<value>1000</value></transactionShares>
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<value>0.00</value></transactionValue>
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<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
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<value>1997-04-30</value></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2007-04-30</value></expirationDate>
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<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
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<value>1000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
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<value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
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<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
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<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>D.E.P 1996 Options</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>25.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>1996-04-30</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
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<transactionShares>
<value>1000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>1996-04-30</value></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2006-04-30</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>1000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Shares awarded as payment of Directors retainer fee.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">In addition, 46,890 shares held by indirect beneficial ownership by Mr. Robinson&apos;s spouse.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Lee Gentry as attorney in fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
