<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
SEPTEMBER 30, 1995 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           444,162
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        1,722,544
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          2,214,804
<EQUITIES>                                      29,375
<MORTGAGE>                                     191,390
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   20,480
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,575,701
<CASH>                                           6,273
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               1,121
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         281,979
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,920,248
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              2,552,035
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  14,997
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           10,017
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<COMMON>                                         3,488
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     292,307
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,920,248
<PREMIUMS>                                      64,451<F1>
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            149,161
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (1,729)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     611
<BENEFITS>                                     134,147<F2>
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     24,522
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            19,973
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 33,852
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,117
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             27,735
<DISCONTINUED>                                (16,350)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,385
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.26
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Consists of $13,061 revenues from traditional contracts subject to FAS
60 accounting treatment and $51,390 revenues from universal life and
investment annuity contracts subject to FAS 97 accounting treatment.
<F2>Consists of $29,033 benefits paid to policyholders, $(2,489) decrease in
reserves on traditional contracts and $107,603 interest on universal life
and investment annuity contracts.
</FN>