Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF 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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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Martinez Carlos A
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
06/28/2012		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE CO [NWLI]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
850 E. ANDERSON LANE		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Sr. VP - Intl Marketing
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

AUSTIN, TX 78752		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(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 Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Class A Common Stock 0
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Appreciation Rights 12/14/2014(1) 12/14/2021 Class A Common Stock 500 $ 132.56 D  
Stock Appreciation Rights 02/19/2012(1) 02/19/2019 Class A Common Stock 500 $ 114.64 D  
Non Qualified Stock Options 04/18/2011(2) 04/18/2018 Class A Common Stock 500 $ 255.13 D  
Non Qualified Stock Options 04/23/2007(2) 04/23/2014 Class A Common Stock 400 $ 150 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Martinez Carlos A
850 E. ANDERSON LANE
AUSTIN, TX 78752		       Sr. VP - Intl Marketing  

Signatures

Carlos A. Martinez 06/28/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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) The SARs are exercisable as they vest. The SARs vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the Date Exercisable.
(2) The options are exercisable as they vest. The options vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the Date Exercisable.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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