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
^ Kelly, Jaques; Frederick N Rasmussen (2002-03-23). "Alonzo G. Decker Jr., 94; Engineer, Power Tool Innovator" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2014-01-22 .
^ "Alonzo Decker Jr" . 20th Century American Leaders Database, Harvard Business School . Retrieved 2014-01-22 .
^ "Alonzo and Virginia Decker bequeath $4.3 million to Washington College -" . MyEasternShoreMD . 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2014-01-22 .
^ "Last Decker Leaves Power Tool Company" . The New York Times . p. 9.
^ Saxon, Wolfgang (20 March 2002). "A.G. Decker, Power Tool Developer, 94" . The New York Times . p. 27.
^ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr. - Leadership - Harvard Business School" .
^ 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 . Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-22 .
^ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr" . 15 September 2002.
^ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr" . 15 September 2002.
^ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr" . 15 September 2002.
^ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr" . 15 September 2002.
^ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr" . 15 September 2002.
^ "Alonzo G. Decker, Jr" . 15 September 2002.
^ "Named Professorships, Deanships, and Directorships -- Alonzo G. Decker Chair in Mechanical Engineering" . The Johns Hopkins University . Retrieved 2014-01-22 .
^ "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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