Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
ADAMS W ANDREW
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORP [NHC] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

750 S. CHURCH STREET, SUITE B		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2008
(Street)


MURFREESBORO, TN 37130		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Shares of Common Stock - WAA             388 D  
Shares of Common Stock - AdamsMark L.P.             977,634 D  
Shares of Common Stock - Adams Children's Trust             77,528 I Trustee
Shares of Common Stock - Adams Family Foundation II             35,407 I Trustee
Shares of Common Stock - Adams Grandchilren's Trust             2,307 I Trustee
Shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock - AMK, L.P.             571,754 D  
Shares of Series A Conv Pref Stock - Adams Christian Trust             77,528 I Trustee
Shares of Series A Conv Pref Stock - Adams Family Found II             35,407 I Trustee
Shares of Series A Conv Pref Stock-Adams Grandchildrns Trust             2,307 I Trustee
Shares of Series A Conv Pref Stock - The Adams Group             339,591 I Family Partnership
Shares of Series A Conv Pref Stock - AdamsMark LP             245,177 D  
Shares of Series A Conv Pref Stock -DBA int. in Adams Inv LP             2,317 I Family Partnership

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Option to Purchase Common Stock $ 20.9           12/29/2004 03/23/2009 Common Stock
290,000
  290,000
D
 
Option to Purchase Common Stock $ 32.01           05/03/2005 05/02/2010 Common Stock
15,000
  15,000
D
 
Option to Purchase Common Stock $ 44.25           05/03/2006 05/02/2011 Common Stock
15,000
  15,000
D
 
Option to Purchase Common Stock $ 52.5           04/24/2007 04/23/2012 Common Stock
15,000
  15,000
D
 
Option to Purchase Common Stock $ 51.5           05/01/2008 05/01/2013 Common Stock
15,000
  15,000
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
ADAMS W ANDREW
750 S. CHURCH STREET
SUITE B
MURFREESBORO, TN 37130		   X      

Signatures

W. Andrew Adams 02/17/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space provided is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.