SEC FORM 3

SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

SQUIRES TED

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

501 NELSON PLACE

(Street)

NASHVILLE

37214

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
03/31/2004

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NELSON THOMAS INC [ TNM ]

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	Exec. V.P. - World Publishing

5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Thomas Nelson Common Stock	20,136	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Non-qualified Stock Option - Right to Buy⁽¹⁾	06/12/1996⁽²⁾	06/12/2005	Thomas Nelson Inc. Common Stock	2,000	$18.375⁽³⁾	D
Non-qualified Stock Option - Right to Buy⁽¹⁾	05/22/1997⁽²⁾	05/22/2006	Thomas Nelson Inc. Common Stock	3,000	$12.625⁽³⁾	D
Non-qualified Stock Option - Right to Buy⁽¹⁾	05/15/1998⁽²⁾	05/15/2007	Thomas Nelson Inc. - Common Stock	4,000	$10.875⁽³⁾	D
Qualified Incentive Stock Option - Right to Buy⁽¹⁾	05/16/2002⁽²⁾	05/16/2011	Thomas Nelson Inc. Common Stock	3,334	$7.05⁽³⁾	D
Qualified Incentive Stock Option - Right to Buy⁽¹⁾	05/29/2003⁽²⁾	05/26/2012	Thomas Nelson Inc. Common Stock	10,000	$13.6⁽³⁾	D
Qualified Incentive Stock Option - Right to Buy⁽¹⁾	06/11/2004⁽²⁾	06/11/2013	Thomas Nelson Inc. - Common Stock	20,000	$12.07⁽³⁾	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. All stock option grants are pursuant the 1992 Thomas Nelson Employee Stock Incentive Plan approved at the shareholder meeting held on July 14, 1992

2. All stock option grants become exercisable in 1/3 increments with the first exercisable date being one year from date of grant. Provisions for delay of some vesting dates may occur if performance targets are not achieved. Options fully vest on the 3rd anniversary of option grant date.

3. Exercise price is determined based on the fair market value of the underlying security on the grant date.

Remarks:

Reportable person has a Power of Attorney on file with the security issuer that authorizes and designates Joe Powers or Les Hottovy to sign on his behalf.

	Les Hottovy, Power of Attorney for Ted Squires	04/05/2004
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.