Alonzo G. Decker Jr. Explained

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]}

Notes and References

1. News: Kelly. Jaques. Frederick N Rasmussen. Alonzo G. Decker Jr., 94; Engineer, Power Tool Innovator. Los Angeles Times. 2014-01-22. 2002-03-23.
2. Web site: Alonzo Decker Jr.. 20th Century American Leaders Database, Harvard Business School. 2014-01-22.
3. News: Alonzo and Virginia Decker bequeath $4.3 million to Washington College -. MyEasternShoreMD. 2014-01-22. 2008-06-19.
4. News: Last Decker Leaves Power Tool Company. The New York Times. 9.
5. News: Saxon. Wolfgang. A.G. Decker, Power Tool Developer, 94. The New York Times. 27. 20 March 2002.
6. Web site: Alonzo G. Decker, Jr. - Leadership - Harvard Business School .
7. News: Somerville. Sean. 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. 2014-01-22. 1997-01-05.
8. Web site: Alonzo G. Decker, Jr . 15 September 2002 .
9. Web site: Alonzo G. Decker, Jr . 15 September 2002 .
10. Web site: Alonzo G. Decker, Jr . 15 September 2002 .
11. Web site: Alonzo G. Decker, Jr . 15 September 2002 .
12. Web site: Alonzo G. Decker, Jr . 15 September 2002 .
13. Web site: Alonzo G. Decker, Jr . 15 September 2002 .
14. Web site: Named Professorships, Deanships, and Directorships -- Alonzo G. Decker Chair in Mechanical Engineering. The Johns Hopkins University. 2014-01-22.
15. News: 1 . 1 . A Legacy of Invention: Alonzo G. Decker—inventor, businessman, philanthropist . One Magazine, Johns Hopkins, Carey Business School . 2014-01-22 . 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110910173929/http://carey.jhu.edu/one/2008/fall/a-legacy-of-invention/. dead. 2011-09-10.