EXHIBIT 3(b) - ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

               AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
                  NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



PURSUANT to the provisions of  the Colorado Insurance Code  and the Colorado
Corporation Act, the  undersigned corporation adopts  the following Articles
of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation:

1.  The name of the corporation is National Western Life Insurance Company.

2.   The  following amendment  to  the Articles  of  Incorporation was  duly
submitted to and adopted by the shareholders of the corporation on April 27,
1971.  The amendment alters and changes Article  VI of the original Articles
of Incorporation by removing any specific street address for the Home Office
of the Company in  Denver, Colorado.  Article  VI is hereby  amended to read
and provide as follows:


ARTICLE VI


"The location  of  the  Home  Office of  the  Company  shall  be in  Denver,
Colorado.  The registered office of the Company  is 1900 First National Bank
Building,  Denver,  Colorado,  and  Arthur  K.  Underwood,  Jr.,  is  hereby
designated as the initial resident agent of the Company at said address."

3.  The number of shares of the corporation outstanding and entitled to vote
at the date of such  adoption was 3,508,283, being  3,308,283 Class A shares
and 200,000 Class B shares.

4.  The  number of shares  voted "for" and  "against" such amendment  was as
follows:




                                 For              Against

                                             

     Class A:                 2,403,357            24,889

     Class B:                   200,000              -0-



5.  The amendment does not affect the stated capital of the Company.


                         National Western Life Insurance Company


                         /s/ Harry L. Edwards          
                         By:    President


                         /s/ R. F. Varnado                
                          Secretary


STATE OF TEXAS    )
                  )
COUNTY OF TRAVIS  )

I, a Notary Public, do hereby  certify that on this 29th  day of July, 1971,
personally appeared before me Harry  L. Edwards who declared  that he is the
President of the Corporation  executing the foregoing  instrument, and being
first duly sworn acknowledged that he signed the foregoing instrument in the
capacity  therein  set  forth  and  declared  that  the  statements  therein
contained are true and correct.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have  hereunto set my hand and  seal this day and
year above written.

                              /s/ Mary L. Stacks         
                              NOTARY PUBLIC in and for Travis
                              County, Texas