Trickler is a Christian layman with an interest in history, particularly in the history of Christianity. After military service in World War II he completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering and went to work for a manufacturer of industrial air-moving equipment. (Think of such as the control of air pollution from chemical plants.) He worked his way up through research to engineering management, to manufacturing management, and retired as vice president of corporate development, all with the same company.**After retirement Trickler found time to delve more deeply into his interest in the history of Christianity. What began simply as reading for personal enjoyment led to making notes, and then to arranging those notes so as to put his conclusions in logical order. That led to thoughts of putting his work together so as to make it available for his children and grandchildren.  (He jokes about visualizing his grandchildren pointing with pride to his book and telling friends, "My Grandpa wrote that; someday I’m going to read it. When Trickler asked a set of friends and family, those he terms his "consultants" in the Acknowledgments in his book, to read and comment on what he had written he received suggestions to expand his work and to make it available to others than his family. That is, to publish it.