DECKER, Thomas (W.) 1927-

PERSONAL: Born September 30, 1927, in Brazil, IN; son of Joseph (a dentist) and Lucille (a homemaker) Decker; married April, 1956; wife's name Tula (died 1986); married December 12, 1995; wife's name Lila G. (a songwriter); children: Maxwell J. Ethnicity: "White." Education: Attended Indiana State University, 1945-47, and New York Institute of Photography, 1949-51. Politics: "Usually Republican." Religion: "Verity." Hobbies and other interests: Piano, automated education.

ADDRESSES: Home—500 Spanish Fort Blvd., Suite 55, Spanish Fort, AL 36527. Office—Verity, Inc., P.O. Box 7910, Spanish Fort, AL 35577. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Worked as developer of automated music teaching programs and systems, 1947-2000; Verity, Inc., Spanish Fort, AL, chief executive officer, 2000—. Purity Publishing, chief executive officer, 2000—; Institute for Gospel Integrity, chief executive officer; also affiliated with Decker International, Inc. and Decker Publishing. Pianist, performing in concert and on television and radio programs, 1947—, including with the Penny Serenaders, 1947-57; minister on television and on the Internet. Holder of patent claims on inventions for teaching piano and other keyboard instruments. Military service: U.S. Naval Reserve, 1945.

MEMBER: Restoration Fellowship, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.

WRITINGS:

Didymus, Dayspring Press, 1995.

Piano for Angels, 2000.

Why Christianity Is Dying, 1st Books Library (Bloomington, IN), 2002.

Piano, 2002.

(With Lila Porter) Piano for Kids, Decker Publishing (Spanish Fort, AL), 2001.

Author of several other books, including So You Wrote a Song, Now What? How to Back Yourself Up, and The Big Book. Also songwriter and recording artist.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Growing up in the Golden Years, 1930-1945.