Alonzo G. Decker Jr., also known as Al Decker, or A. G. Decker (1908 – 18 March 2002) was an American businessperson and engineer who served as the chairman of the board of Black & Decker.[1] He is known for developing power tools for use in the home, including the first cordless electric drill, which helped create the do it yourself market.[2][3][4][5]

Biography

Alonzo G. Decker Jr. was born in Maryland to Alonzo G. Decker Sr., co-founder of Black & Decker.[6][7] He spent his early life in Towson, Maryland and graduated from the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Cornell University in electrical engineering.[8]

He started his career with Black & Decker at the age of 14.[9] Later, after his graduation, he became a member of the export department of Black & Decker.[10] He continued to work with Black & Decker until depression when he lost his job.[11] After losing his job, for a brief period, he sold soap flakes before rejoining Black & Decker as a floor sweeper.[12]

In 1933, he became a research and manufacturing engineer at Black & Decker.[13]

Throughout his life he was an active philanthropist.[14][15]

References

  1. ↑ Kelly, Jaques; Frederick N Rasmussen (2002-03-23). "Alonzo G. Decker Jr., 94; Engineer, Power Tool Innovator". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  2. ↑ "Alonzo Decker Jr". 20th Century American Leaders Database, Harvard Business School. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  3. ↑ "Alonzo and Virginia Decker bequeath $4.3 million to Washington College -". MyEasternShoreMD. 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  4. ↑ "Last Decker Leaves Power Tool Company". The New York Times. p. 9.
  5. ↑ Saxon, Wolfgang (20 March 2002). "A.G. Decker, Power Tool Developer, 94". The New York Times. p. 27.
  6. ↑ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr. - Leadership - Harvard Business School".
  7. ↑ Somerville, Sean (1997-01-05). "Alonzo G. Decker: He's still a company man Founder's son: Alonzo G. Decker Jr., son of one of the founders of Black & Decker, helped spark the do-it-yourself movement. As he approaches his 89th birthday, he maintains his connection to the family business". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  8. ↑ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr". 15 September 2002.
  9. ↑ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr". 15 September 2002.
  10. ↑ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr". 15 September 2002.
  11. ↑ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr". 15 September 2002.
  12. ↑ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr". 15 September 2002.
  13. ↑ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr". 15 September 2002.
  14. ↑ "Named Professorships, Deanships, and Directorships -- Alonzo G. Decker Chair in Mechanical Engineering". The Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  15. ↑ "A Legacy of Invention: Alonzo G. Decker—inventor, businessman, philanthropist". One Magazine, Johns Hopkins, Carey Business School. Vol. 1, no. 1. 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2014-01-22.


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