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 *
MASLOWSKI MICHAEL E
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTURYTEL INC [CTL] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Sr. VP & Chief Info. Off.
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

100 CENTURYTEL DRIVE		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2004
(Street)


MONROE, LA 71203		 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
Common Stock 01/01/2004   G 100 D $ 0 15,623.2 D  
Common Stock             850.26 I By ESOP (1)
Common Stock             362.48 I By Stock Bonus Plan (2)

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
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 45.54           03/24/2000 03/24/2009 Common Stock
19,142
  19,142
D
 
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 34.63           02/21/2001(3) 02/21/2010 Common Stock
50,000
  50,000
D
 
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 28.03           05/21/2002(4) 05/21/2011 Common Stock
81,000
  81,000
D
 
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 32.99           02/25/2003(5) 02/25/2012 Common Stock
81,000
  81,000
D
 
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 27.48           02/24/2004(6) 02/24/2013 Common Stock
53,999
  53,999
D
 
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 28.34           02/25/2004 02/25/2014 Common Stock
40,500
  40,500
D
 
Phantom Stock Units $ 0 (7)             (8)   (8) Common Stock
987.9
  987.9
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
MASLOWSKI MICHAEL E
100 CENTURYTEL DRIVE
MONROE, LA 71203		       Sr. VP & Chief Info. Off.  

Signatures

By: Kay C. Buchart, Attorney-In-Fact 02/14/2005
**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).
(1) As of December 31, 2003, the most recent statement available.
(2) As of December 31, 2003, the most recent statement available.
(3) One-third of the Stock Options are exercisable 2/21/2001, one-third are exercisable on 2/21/2002, and one-third are exercisable on 2/21/2003.
(4) One-third of the Stock Options are exercisable 5/21/02, one-third are exercisable 5/21/03, and one-third are exercisable 5/21/04.
(5) One-third of the Stock Options are exercisable 2/25/03, one-third are exercisable 2/25/04, and one-third are exercisable 2/25/05.
(6) One-third of the Stock Options are exercisable 2/24/04, one-third are exercisable 2/24/05, and one-third are exercisable 2/24/06.
(7) Security converts on a 1-to-1 basis.
(8) The reported phantom stock units were acquired under CTE's excess benefit plan and will be settled upon the reporting person's termination of service.

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