SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    ---------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 24, 2005


                           J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     Delaware                         1-15274                      26-0037077
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File No.)         (I.R.S. Employer
   of incorporation )                                        Identification No.)


6501 Legacy Drive
Plano, Texas                                                        75024-3698
(Address of principal executive offices)                            (Zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (972) 431-1000

===============================================================================
Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
     CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  14d-2(b)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  13d-4(c)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.


Exhibit 10.1       Form of Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award - 
                   2005 Non-Associate Director Annual Grant








                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                 J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.



                                                 By: /s/ Jeffrey J. Vawrinek
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   Jeffrey J. Vawrinek
                                                   Assistant Secretary




Date:  May 24, 2005






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number          Description

10.1                    Form of Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award - 
                        2005 Non-Associate Director Annual Grant








                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

            J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC. 2001 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN


                      NOTICE OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD
                 -- 2005 NON-ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ANNUAL GRANT --


Name:



Restricted Stock Unit Grant
----------------------------

A  restricted  stock  unit  grant  for  -------  units  was  granted  to  you on
----------.  Each  restricted  stock unit shall at all times be deemed to have a
value equal to the then-current fair market value of J. C. Penney Company,  Inc.
Common Stock of 50(cent) par value  ("Common  Stock").  This grant is subject to
all the terms,  rules,  and  conditions of the J. C. Penney  Company,  Inc. 2001
Equity Compensation Plan ("Plan").


You will be eligible to be credited with a quarterly  distribution  of an amount
equivalent  to the  dividend  declared on Common Stock on the  restricted  stock
units until such time as the units are converted to shares of Common Stock.  Any
such dividends shall be converted into a number of additional  restricted  stock
units equal to the aggregate dividend which would have been paid with respect to
the  number of  restricted  stock  units then  credited  to you under this grant
divided by the closing price of the Company Stock on the New York Stock Exchange
on the day on which such  dividends  are paid.  Any such  additional  restricted
stock units shall be treated in the same manner as the original restricted stock
units.

Payment Date
-------------

Upon your separation from Board Service, the Company will issue to you shares of
Common Stock in cancellation  of the restricted  stock units. If your separation
from Board  service is for any reason  other  than a  Qualified  Termination  as
defined  in the  Plan,  the  restricted  stock  units  will  be  forfeited.  The
beneficiary listed on your J. C. Penney Company,  Inc.  Beneficiary  Designation
Form will receive the vested shares upon separation due to death.

Taxes
------

At the time the Company issues to you, in cancellation  of the restricted  stock
units,  shares of Common  Stock,  the fair  market  value of the shares  will be
reported to the Internal  Revenue  Service on a Form 1099. The fair market value
is subject to Federal Income Tax and Social Security Self-Employment Tax.