UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
(Rule 13d-102)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED
PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c), AND (d) AND
AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)
(Amendment No. N/A)*
Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
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(Title of Class of Securities)
640376109
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(CUSIP Number)
January 1, 1999
----------------------------
(Date of Event Which Requires
Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to
which this Schedule is filed:
[ X ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
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*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a
reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to
the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent
amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page
shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act, but shall
be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
(Bulletin No. 179, 02-06-98)
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CUSIP NO. 640376109 13G Page 2 of 5
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NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Thomas Nelson, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan-Investment
Committee
TEIN #62-0679364
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 Not applicable (a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
United States of America
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SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF 0
SHARES -------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
0
OWNED BY
------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING 0
PERSON ------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
Plan holds 731,312 shares of Common
Stock (includes 19,013 shares of
Class B Common Stock which is
convertible into Common Stock
on a one to one basis)
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
PERSON
9
731,312
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES*
10
[ ]
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
11.
731,312/13,604,603=5.4%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
EP
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
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Date: 2/12/99 Page 3 of 5
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Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:
Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing:
Thomas Nelson, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan-
Investment Committee
Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
Item 2(c) Citizenship:
United States of America
Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock
Item 2 (e) CUSIP Number:
640376109
Item 3 If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-
1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person
filing is a:
(f) [ X ] An employee benefit plan or endowment
fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)
(1)(ii)(F)
Item 4 Ownership
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
(See Page 2, No. 9)
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(b) Percent of Class:
(See Page 2, No. 11)
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(c) Number of shares as to which each person
has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct
the vote
(See Page 2, No. 5)
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(ii) shared power to vote or to direct
the vote
(See Page 2, No. 6)
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Date: 2/12/99 Page 4 of 5
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(iii)sole power to dispose or to direct
the disposition of
(See Page 2, No. 7)
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(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct
the disposition of
(See Page 2, No. 8)
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Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
Not applicable
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of
Another Person.
Not applicable
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary
which Acquired the Security being reported on by the
Parent Holding Company.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the
Group.
The Investment Committee has the power to direct
investment decisions (other than permitted partici-
pant transactions). The Investment Committee is
comprised of Phyllis Williams, Treasurer; Eric
Heyden, Vice President and General Counsel; Rusty
Faulks, Human Resource Director; and Les Hottovy,
Tax Director. Individual Committee members disclaim
beneficial ownership of shares held in the Plan.
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not applicable
Item 10. Certification.
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to
above were not acquired and are not held for the
purpose of or with the effect of changing or
influencing the control of the issuer of the
securities and were not acquired and are not
held in connection with or as a participant in
any transaction having that purpose or effect.
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Date: 2/12/99 Page 5 of 5
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SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.
THOMAS NELSON, INC.
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP
PLAN-INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
BY: /s/ Phyllis Williams
---------------------------
Phyllis Williams, Member
Investment Committee
Dated: February 12, 1999
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