SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

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

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

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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OMB Number:			3235-0287
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

LAWSON VANCE

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

501 NELSON PALCE

(Street)

NASHVILLE

37214

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

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

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

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	Senior Vice Pres. - Finance

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/28/2004

4. 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 Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Thomas Nelson Common Stock	01/28/2004		J⁽¹⁾	V	9	A	$0⁽²⁾	6,620	D
Thomas Nelson Common Stock	03/11/2004		F⁽³⁾		1,000	D	$26.7	5,620	D
Thomas Nelson Common Stock	03/11/2004		M⁽⁴⁾		3,900	A	$7⁽⁵⁾	9,520	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Stock Option - Right to Buy	$7	03/11/2004		M⁽⁴⁾			3,900	05/24/2001	05/24/2010	Thomas Nelson Common Stock	7,500	$7⁽⁵⁾	3,600	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Shares allocated to participant's account in a qualified ESOP by Plan Trustee from dividend reinvestments is reported as an acquisition of a Direct Interest

2. Price is N/A as it is part of a pooled average on purchases by the Trustee for all participants in the Plan

3. Exercise of an in-the-money derivative security pursuant a Rule 16b-3 plan by delivery of shares to pay option price is reported as a disposition of a Direct Interest in the securities surrendered

4. Exercise of an in-the-money derivative security acquired pursuant a Rule 16b-3 plan is reported as a disposition of a derivative security and an acquisition of a Direct Interest in the underlying securities.

5. Option Price was at the FMV on grant date of May 24, 2000.

Remarks:

Repprtable 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 Vance Lawson	03/15/2004
	** 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 4 (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.