SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ----------------------

                                  SCHEDULE 13G*
                                 (Rule 13d-102)



             INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
           TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
                              PURSUANT TO 13d-2(b)

                                  CENTEX CORP.
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  Common Stock
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    152312104

                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                 August 1, 2007
             (Date of event which requires filing of this statement)


     Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule 13G is filed:
     [ ]  Rule 13d-1(b)
     [X]  Rule 13d-1(c)
     [ ]  Rule 13d-1(d)





                              (Page 1 of 10 Pages)
----------------
     *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

     The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the
Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).






CUSIP No. 152312104                 13G                    Page 2 of 10 Pages

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (1)    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
            OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
                                                     Tontine Partners, L.P.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2)    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
                                                                  (a)  [X]
                                                                  (b)  [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3)    SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4)    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                            Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      (5)  SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                -0-
SHARES         ______________________________________________________________

BENEFICIALLY   (6)  SHARED VOTING POWER
                                                2,972,242
OWNED BY       ______________________________________________________________

EACH           (7)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                -0-
REPORTING      ______________________________________________________________

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                2,972,242
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (9)    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
            BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                2,972,242
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
            IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
            BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                2.46%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (12)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
                                                PN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!






CUSIP No. 152312104                 13G                    Page 3 of 10 Pages

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (1)    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
            OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
                                           Tontine Management, L.L.C.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2)    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
                                                                  (a)  [X]
                                                                  (b)  [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3)    SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4)    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                            Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      (5)  SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                -0-
SHARES         ______________________________________________________________

BENEFICIALLY   (6)  SHARED VOTING POWER
                                                2,972,242
OWNED BY       ______________________________________________________________

EACH           (7)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                -0-
REPORTING      ______________________________________________________________

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                2,972,242
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (9)    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
            BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                2,972,242
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
            IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
            BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                2.46%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (12)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
                                                OO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!






CUSIP No. 152312104                 13G                    Page 4 of 10 Pages

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (1)    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
            OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
                                          Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2)    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
                                                                  (a)  [X]
                                                                  (b)  [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3)    SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4)    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                            Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      (5)  SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                -0-
SHARES         ______________________________________________________________

BENEFICIALLY   (6)  SHARED VOTING POWER
                                                2,186,125
OWNED BY       ______________________________________________________________

EACH           (7)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                -0-
REPORTING      ______________________________________________________________

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                2,186,125
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (9)    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
            BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                2,186,125
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
            IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
            BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                1.81%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (12)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
                                                IA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!






CUSIP No. 152312104                 13G                    Page 5 of 10 Pages

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (1)    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
            OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
                                                  Jeffrey L. Gendell
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2)    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
                                                                  (a)  [X]
                                                                  (b)  [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3)    SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4)    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                            United States
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      (5)  SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                128,600
SHARES         ______________________________________________________________

BENEFICIALLY   (6)  SHARED VOTING POWER
                                                5,158,367
OWNED BY       ______________________________________________________________

EACH           (7)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                128,600
REPORTING      ______________________________________________________________

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                5,158,367
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (9)    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
            BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                5,286,967
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
            IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
            BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                4.37%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (12)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
                                                IN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!






CUSIP No. 152312104                 13G                    Page 6 of 10 Pages

Item 1(a).     Name of Issuer:

     The name of the issuer is Centex Corp. (the "Company").

Item 1(b).     Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

     The Company's principal executive offices are located at 2728 N. Harwood,
Dallas, TX 75201.

Item 2(a).     Name of Person Filing:

     This statement is filed by:
             (i)   Tontine Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("TP")
                   with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by
                   it;
             (ii)  Tontine Management, L.L.C., a limited liability company
                   organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TM"),
                   with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by
                   TP;
             (iii) Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C., a limited liability
                   company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware
                   ("TOA"), which serves as investment manager to Tontine
                   Overseas Fund, Ltd. ("TOF"), a company organized under the
                   laws of the Cayman Islands, and certain separately managed
                   accounts, with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly
                   owned by TOF and the separately managed accounts; and
             (iv)  Jeffrey L. Gendell ("Mr. Gendell"), with respect to the
                   shares of Common Stock owned directly by TP, TOF and the
                   separately managed accounts.

The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the
"Reporting Persons." Any disclosures herein with respect to persons other than
the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief after making inquiry to
the appropriate party.

Item 2(b).     Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:

     The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 55
Railroad Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830.

Item 2(c).     Citizenship:
     TP is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Each of TM and TOA is a limited liability company organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware. Mr. Gendell is a United States citizen.






CUSIP No. 152312104                 13G                    Page 7 of 10 Pages

Item 2(d).     Title of Class of Securities:
     Common Stock, $0.25 par value (the "Common Stock")

Item 2(e).     CUSIP Number:  152312104

Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or
(c), check whether the person filing is a:

          (a) [ ]  Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the
                   Act,

          (b) [ ]  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act,

          (c) [ ]  Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of
                   the Act,

          (d) [ ]  Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
                   Investment Company Act of 1940,

          (e) [ ]  Investment Adviser in accordance with Rule
                   13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E),

          (f) [ ]  Employee Benefit Plan or Endowment Fund in accordance
                   with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F),

          (g) [ ]  Parent Holding Company or control person in accordance
                   with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G),

          (h) [ ]  Savings Association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
                   Federal Deposit Insurance Act,

          (i) [ ]  Church Plan that is excluded from the definition of an
                   investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the
                   Investment Company Act of 1940,

          (j) [ ]  Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

     Not applicable.

Item 4.   Ownership.

       A. Tontine Partners, L.P.
            (a) Amount beneficially owned: 2,972,242
            (b) Percent of class: 2.46% The percentages used herein and in the
rest of Item 4 are calculated based upon the 120,891,046 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding as of July 20, 2007, as set forth in the Company's Form
10-Q for the quarterly period ending on June 30, 2007.
            (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
              (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 2,972,242
             (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-






CUSIP No. 152312104                 13G                    Page 8 of 10 Pages

              (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 2,972,242

       B. Tontine Management, L.L.C.
            (a) Amount beneficially owned: 2,972,242
            (b) Percent of class: 2.46%
            (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
              (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 2,972,242
             (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
              (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 2,972,242

       C. Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C.
            (a) Amount beneficially owned: 2,186,125
            (b) Percent of class: 1.81%
            (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
              (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 2,186,125
             (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
              (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 2,186,125

       D. Jeffrey L. Gendell
            (a) Amount beneficially owned: 5,286,967
            (b) Percent of class: 4.37%
            (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: 128,600
              (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 5,158,367
             (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: 128,600
              (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 5,158,367

Item 5.     Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

     If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the Reporting Persons have ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities, check the following: [X].






CUSIP No. 152312104                 13G                    Page 9 of 10 Pages

Item 6.     Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

     Not applicable.

Item 7.     Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.

     Not applicable.


Item 8.     Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

     See Item 2.

Item 9.     Notice of Dissolution of Group.

     Not applicable.

Item 10.    Certification.

     Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification:

          By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for
the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.






CUSIP No. 152312104                 13G                    Page 10 of 10 Pages

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, the
undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.


DATED:  August 13, 2006

                                    /s/ Jeffrey L. Gendell
                                    -------------------------------
                                    Jeffrey L. Gendell, individually, and as
                                    managing member of
                                    Tontine Management, L.L.C.,
                                    general partner of
                                    Tontine Partners, L.P., and as
                                    managing member of
                                    Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C.