Doug Tjapkes
My blogs
Blogs I follow
| Location | Spring Lake, Michigan, United States |
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| Introduction | Doug Tjapkes is Founder of Humanity for Prisoners, a 501c3 organization located in Spring Lake, Michigan. He formed the organization in 2001 based on a dream of his best friend, Maurice Carter, who had been behind bars for 29 years for a crime he did not commit. He enjoyed only three months of freedom. He died at the age of 60 in October, 2004, before he could qualify for a liver transplant. Born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan, Tjapkes is a retired broadcast journalist whose work has resulted in numerous awards and citations between 1954 and 1983. He was a seller of church organs from 1983 until he assumed his new career at the helm of HFP. His avocation is church music. He has served as organist, pianist and choir director at Ferrysburg Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, for more than 50 years. He is the author of a book telling of his ten year relationship with Maurice Carter and their battle for freedom entitled Sweet Freedom. Doug has four grown children and resides in Ferrysburg, Michigan. |