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)

                               March 3, 2006
            (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
                                                                  4,156,395
OWNED BY       --------------------------------------------------------------

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

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                  4,156,395
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (9)     AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
             BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                  4,156,395
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
             IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                   [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
             BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                                  3.39%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (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
                                                                  4,156,395
OWNED BY       --------------------------------------------------------------

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

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                   4,156,395
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (9)     AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
             BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                   4,156,395
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
             IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
             BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                                     3.39%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (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
                                                                   2,281,843
OWNED BY       --------------------------------------------------------------

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

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                    2,281,843
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (9)     AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
             BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                    2,281,843
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
             IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
             BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                                      1.86%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (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
                                                                  378,200
SHARES         --------------------------------------------------------------

BENEFICIALLY   (6)  SHARED VOTING POWER
                                                                  6,438,238
OWNED BY       --------------------------------------------------------------

EACH           (7)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                   378,200
REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                  6,438,238
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (9)     AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
             BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                   6,816,438
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
             IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
             BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                                   5.55%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (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"), each 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, 3rd Floor, 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: 4,156,395
              (b) Percent of class: 3.39% The percentages used herein and in the
rest of Item 4 are calculated based upon the 122,775,805 shares
of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of January 25, 2006,
as set forth in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ending on December 31, 2005.
              (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
                 (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 4,156,395
                (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:
4,156,395

      B.  Tontine Management, L.L.C.
              (a) Amount beneficially owned: 4,156,395
              (b) Percent of class: 3.39%
              (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
                (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 4,156,395
               (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
                (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
               4,156,395

      C.   Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C.
              (a) Amount beneficially owned: 2,281,843
              (b) Percent of class: 1.86%
              (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
                (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 2,281,843
               (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
                (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:2,281,843

      D.   Jeffrey L. Gendell
              (a) Amount beneficially owned: 6,816,438
              (b) Percent of class: 5.55%
              (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: 378,200
                (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 6,438,238
               (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: 378,200
                (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:6,438,238

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

     Not applicable.





CUSIP No. 152312104                 13G                    Page 9 of 10 Pages

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

     TM, the general partner of TP, has the power to direct the affairs of TP,
including decisions respecting the disposition of the proceeds from the sale of
the shares. Mr. Gendell is the Managing Member of TM and TOA and in that
capacity directs their operations. The managed accounts are clients of TOA. Each
of the clients of TOA has the power to direct the receipt of dividends from or
the proceeds of sale of such shares.

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.

     Not applicable.

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:  March 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.