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Profile of Dr. Bob 1879-1951

Old 01-20-2008, 12:44 AM
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Profile of Dr. Bob 1879-1951

Dr. Bob, a co-founder of A.A., was rebellious as a youth. He started drinking as a youth when he found a jug of booze and continued to enjoy drinking until in his college years when it began to cause him trouble. He attended Dartmouth College and received his medical degree from Brush University.

Dr. Bob opened his medical practice in Akron, Ohio in 1912 and practiced medicine as a surgeon until 1948. During prohibition he was able to write himself prescriptions for whiskey. Dr. Bob's alcoholism progressed along a familiar path leading inevitably to the destruction of all things worthwhile in life. Dr. Bob checked into sanitariums to dry out at least a dozen times.

Dr. Bob and his wife Anne began attending meetings of the Oxford Group, a Christian fellowship. Anne's Oxford Group friend, Henrietta Seiberling introduced Bill W. to Dr. Bob. Bill was on a business trip to Akron and contacted Henrietta through the Reverend Walter Tunks whose name Bill found on a readerboard at the Mayflower Hotel where he was staying.

Dr. Bob and Bill, both originally from Vermont, quickly identified with each other as alcoholics and talked for hours at their first meeting. Dr. Bob saw that Bill had been able to stay sober for six months by attempting to help other alcoholics gain sobriety. After one final spree Dr. Bob sobered never to drink again. He was 55 years old and his June 10, 1935 sobriety date is counted as the birthdate of A.A.

Dr. Bob and Bill began to try helping alcoholics soon after Dr. Bob sobered. The first attempt failed but soon they had several alcoholics who were sober by following their path. Dr. Bob continued to work with alcoholics, at Akcron City Hospital and then for a dozen years at St. Thomas Hospital where he worked with his nurse Teddy and Sister Mary Ignatia.

Dr. Bob and his wife Anne relied heavily on the Bible for inspiration and direction. Many of A.A.'s fundamental ideas came from Anne's spritual studies. "Faith without works is dead" was one of Anne's favorite passages. Other terms that came from Anne were: "the unmanageability of our lives," "our lack of power," "the spiritual experience" and "one day at a time."

Dr. Bob's wise counsel and prudence kept A.A. on a steady path druing it's early years. On the Sunday before Dr. Bob died he advised Bill to "keep it simple."
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Old 04-30-2008, 10:42 PM
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Old 11-01-2009, 08:53 AM
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