[nandm]

1895-1971

Born in Vermont, Bill was raised primarily by his maternal grandparents after his parents' divorce. Commissioned as an artillery officer in World War I, Bill developed his talent for leadership, and a taste for liquor.

After the war Bill resolved to prove to the world he was important. He pursued success on Wall Street. His drinking grew progressively more troublesome, leading to unhappy scenes at home and arguments with friends. Devastated by the 1929 stock market crash Bill worked in Canada for a time, until his drinking cost him his job.

Bill progressed through the characteristic stages of alcoholims. Bath tub gin, three or four bottles a day, brought Bill to the brink of mental and physical collapse. Realizing that his drinking was preventing him from reaching his goal of success, Bill resolved to stop altogether and foudn that he could not. He was baffled as to why he could not stop drinking even though he desperately wanted to. He began to be caught up in the endless cycle of drinking to relieve sever withdrawal symptoms which quickly made matters worse.

Bill checked in to the Charles B. Towns. Hospital, to be treated for alcohol addiction. Here he learned of Dr. Silkworth's allergy theory taht explained why his will power could not control his drinking. Bill thought that his knowledge would enable him to remain abstinate. Suffering from the common alcoholic delusion that a lengthy dry spell would enable him to control his drinking. Bill began to drink again. Further trips to the hospital and Dr. Silkworth's assessment of his condition convinced Bill that he was in a hopeless state.

In this condition Bill was visited by an old friend, Ebby T. This friend about to be committed for alcoholic hijinks, was rescued by Rowland H. and Cebra G., members of the Oxford Group, a Christian fellowship. Rowland had been diagnosed as an incurable alcoholic by Dr. Carl Jung, the famous psychiatrist. Rowland had found that the Oxford Group offered a solution, a course of action that resulted in a spiritual awakening of sufficient force to overcome alcoholism. Rowland had given Ebby instruction in the basic principles of the Oxford Group and Ebby had contracted Billfor the purpose of sharing this with his old drinking buddy.

Bill, faced with alcoholic destruction, was willing to set aside his prejudice toward spiritual matters after Ebby suggested that he could choose his own conception of God. Bill entered the hospital and was dried out for the last time. While in the hospital Bill was visited by his friend who helped him to understand and begin to practice spiritual principles. When Bill fully accepted these principles he experienced a sudden and profound spiritual awakening. The date was December 11, 1935. Bill was 39 years old.

Bill began to associate with the Oxford Group members at Calvary Church in New York. This was headed by the Reverend Samuel Shoemaker, an Episcopal clergyman. Rev. Shoemaker and other Oxford Group members instruced Bill in the application of spiritual principles. Bill, desiring to share his experience with other alcoholics, was unsuccessful in his earliest attempts. Though Bill had not yet had success in sobering up other people he found that his attempts to help others did keep him sober! Dr. Silkworth helped Bill by suggesting that he first present the "hard medical facts" to his alcoholic prospects so that they might understand the hopelessness of their situation and then be more willing to accept the spiritual solution he had to offer.

It was with this advice in midn that Bill, six months sober, alone in Akcron, Ohio on a business trip, and facing the temptation to drink, found another drunk to talk to. This drunk was Dr. Bob S., an alcoholic surgeon. Bill's candid talk with Dr. Bob about the physcial allergy, mental obsession, and spiritual solution to alcoholism led shortly thereafter to Dr. Bob abandoning all reservations and adopting this way of life. Dr. Bob's sobriety date was June 10, 1935. He was 55 years old. This date is celebrated as the birthdate of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Bill stayed with Dr. Bob and his wife Anne for three months during which time Bill and Bob were successful at helping several other men to achieve sobriety. Bill returned to New York and his wife Lois began builiding upon the success of his Akron experience. By 1939 nearly 100 people had adopted this way of life and the New York, Akron, and Cleveland alcoholics had severed ties with the Oxford Group. Writing the book Alcoholics Anonymous these people took it's name for their fellowship.

Bill and Dr. Bob, along with the Alcoholic Foundation they helped to form, directed the growth of the fellowship. Seeing every imaginable difficulty encountered by groups around the U.S. Bill formulated a number of ideas to ensure the survival and continued growth of A.A. He proposed the fellowship adoped these ideas as traditions. At the 1950 Internations Convention, held in Cleveland, Ohio, the Twelve Traditions were confirmed.

Bill wrote several other books for the fellwoship including: Alcoholic ANonymous Comes of Age, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and As Bill Sees It. Bill also wrote a paper on alcoholism that was printed in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Bill spent the remainder of his life working in his office at A.A. headquarters and devoted himself to helping A.A. carry the message of recovery around the world.