FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN 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 * HUDSON CHARLES B   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol TORCHMARK CORP [TMK] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chairman & CEO (Last) (First) (Middle) TORCHMARK CORPORATION, 2001 THIRD AVENUE SOUTH 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 05/04/2005 (Street) BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 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 Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common stock 05/05/2005   M   116,709 A $ 36.1117 650,294 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   100,000 A $ 27.8125 750,294 D   Common stock 05/05/2005   M   90,000 A $ 37.375 840,294 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   251,351 A $ 37.375 1,091,645 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   15,399 A $ 37.375 1,107,044 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   35,952 A $ 22.1486 1,142,996 D   Common stock 05/05/2005   M   17,212 A $ 33.4375 1,160,208 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   50,000 A $ 33.4375 1,210,208 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   20,694 A $ 27.8125 1,230,902 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   11,300 A $ 38.2 1,242,202 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   100,000 A $ 38.2 1,342,202 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   50,000 A $ 37.44 1,392,202 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   7,686 A $ 37.44 1,399,888 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   M   2,367 A $ 45.6 1,402,255 D   Common stock 05/05/2005   M   248,604 A $ 41.26 1,650,859 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   S   744,009 D $ 54.77 903,850 D   Common Stock 05/05/2005   S   136,295 D $ 54.77 770,555 D   Common Stock               20,610 (1) I Thrift Plan Trust Common Stock               589,762 I Trustee of GRATs for Children Common Stock               18,000 I Custodian for Children

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 54.77	05/04/2005		A		799,999		11/04/2005	05/04/2012	Common Stock	799,999	$ 0	799,999	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 36.1117	05/05/2005		M			116,709	01/02/2001	01/04/2008	Common Stock	116,709	$ 0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 27.8125	05/05/2005		M			100,000	12/21/2003	12/23/2009	Common Stock	100,000	$ 0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 37.375	05/05/2005		M			90,000	12/20/2003	12/22/2010	Common Stock	90,000	$ 0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 37.375	05/05/2005		M			251,351	12/20/2003	12/22/2010	Common stock	251,351	$ 0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 37.375	05/05/2005		M			15,399	(2)	12/20/2011	Common Stock	15,399	$ 0	23,099	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 41.26	05/05/2005		M			248,604	02/09/2002	08/11/2011	Common Stock	248,604	$ 0	270,911	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 22.1486	05/05/2005		M			35,952	(3)	01/31/2008	Common Stock	35,952	$ 0	17,977	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 33.4375	05/05/2005		M			17,212	(4)	12/16/2009	Common Stock	17,212	$ 0	17,213	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 33.4375	05/05/2005		M			50,000	12/16/2001	12/18/2008	Common Stock	50,000	$ 0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 27.8125	05/05/2005		M			20,694	(5)	12/21/2010	Common Stock	20,694	$ 0	25,867	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 38.2	05/05/2005		M			11,300	(6)	12/13/2012	Common Stock	11,300	$ 0	26,367	D
Common stock	$ 38.2	05/05/2005		M			100,000	12/13/2004	12/15/2011	Common Stock	100,000	$ 0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 37.44	05/05/2005		M			50,000	12/16/2004	12/18/2012	Common Stock	50,000	$ 0	50,000	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 37.44	05/05/2005		M			7,686	(7)	12/16/2013	Common Stock	7,686	$ 0	30,745	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 45.6	05/05/2005		M			2,367	01/08/2005	01/08/2015	Common stock	2,367	$ 0	21,299	D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
HUDSON CHARLES B TORCHMARK CORPORATION 2001 THIRD AVENUE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233	X		Chairman & CEO

Signatures

C.B. Hudson, By:/s/Carol A. McCoy, Attorney-in-fact		05/06/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(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)	Shares in unitized fund in employee benefit plan - estimated conversion of $ balance to shares using $54.77 per share.
(2)	Vests as to 1/10 of option shares per year on anniversary of original grant date, commencing 12/20/2001.
(3)	Vests as to 1/10 of option shares per year on anniversary of original grant date, commencing 1/31/1998.
(4)	Vests as to 1/10 of option shares per year on anniversary of original grant date, commencing 12/16/1999.
(5)	Vests as to 1/10 of option shares per year on anniversary of original grant date, commencing 12/21/2000.
(6)	Vests as to 1/10 of option shares per year on anniversary of original grant date, commencing 12/13/2002.
(7)	Vests as to 1/10 of option shares per year on anniversary of original grant date, commencing 12/16/2003.

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