Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On December 12, 2012, the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of National Western Life Insurance Company (the "Company") approved calendar year 2013 bonus programs which include as participants various named executive officers of the Company. These bonus programs are designed to provide additional compensation based on the Company achieving certain performance and profit criteria in order to hold executives accountable through their compensation for the performance of the business. The bonus programs and executive officer participants are as follows:

• National Western Life Insurance Company 2013 Executive Officer Bonus Program

Robert L. Moody - Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Ross R. Moody - President and Chief Operating Officer

• National Western Life Insurance Company 2013 Domestic Marketing Officer Bonus Program

S. Christopher Johnson - Senior Vice President, Chief Domestic Marketing Officer

• National Western Life Insurance Company 2013 International Marketing Officer Bonus Program

Carlos A. Martinez - Senior Vice President, Chief International Marketing Officer

• National Western Life Insurance Company 2013 Officer Bonus Program

Kitty K. Nelson - Senior Vice President, Chief Actuary Charles D. Milos - Senior Vice President, Mortgage Loans and Real Estate James P. Payne - Senior Vice President, Secretary Patricia L. Scheuer - Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer Brian M. Pribyl - Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

The bonus programs are in effect for the year ending December 31, 2013. Amounts earned under the Domestic Marketing Officer Bonus Program and the International Marketing Officer Bonus Program may be paid as frequently as quarterly during 2013. Otherwise, amounts earned under the bonus programs will be paid in 2014 when final results are determined. Copies of the 2013 bonus programs are attached hereto as Exhibits 10(cz), 10(da), 10(db), and 10(dc) and are incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits Exhibit Number Description National Western Life Insurance Company 2013 Executive Officer 10(dd) Bonus Program National Western Life Insurance Company 2013 Domestic Marketing 10(de) Officer Bonus Program National Western Life Insurance Company 2013 International 10(df) Marketing Officer Bonus Program 10(dg) National Western Life Insurance Company 2013 Officer Bonus Program

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