<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FOR NOONEY  REALTY  TRUST,  INC.  AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>               0000748580
<NAME>              NOONEY REALTY TRUST, INC.
       
                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                         JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                           MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                                     644,288
<SECURITIES>                                                     0
<RECEIVABLES>                                              286,112
<ALLOWANCES>                                                     0
<INVENTORY>                                                      0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         1,031,683
<PP&E>                                                  20,162,786
<DEPRECIATION>                                           6,096,615
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          15,342,511
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      399,789
<BONDS>                                                  4,808,592
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<COMMON>                                                   866,624
<OTHER-SE>                                              10,097,330
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                            15,342,511
<SALES>                                                    741,602
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                           744,161
<CGS>                                                            0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                    0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           599,145
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                         101,284
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                  0
<INCOME-TAX>                                                     0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                              0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                  0
<CHANGES>                                                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                                43,732
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                  .05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0