Arielle Cruz
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led mutual-aid fellowship focused on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism. AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson, commonly referred to as Bill W., and Dr. Bob Smith, or Dr. Bob, in New York. The two collaborated to address their shared struggles with alcoholism, and their work eventually became AA. Bill D., also known as the Man on the Bed, was the third member of Alcoholics Anonymous.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Bill D. |
| Nickname | The Man on the Bed |
| Date of sobriety | June 26, 1935 |
| Date of death | September 17, 1954 |
| Place of death | Akron, Ohio |
| Age at death | Not mentioned |
| Cause of death | Not mentioned |
| Occupation | Attorney, City Councilman |
| Place of birth | Kentucky |
| Parents | Well-to-do, happily married |
| Marital status | Married |
| Education | Completed law at Akron Law School |
| Military service | Enlisted in the army |
| Medical history | Hospitalized 8 times in 6 months |
| Diet during hospitalization | Sauerkraut and tomatoes |
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What You'll Learn
- Bill D. was AA's third member
- He was a well-known attorney and city councilman
- He was admitted to Akron City Hospital for detox in 1935
- He was visited by Dr. Bob and Bill W., who told him they had a cure for alcoholism
- The twelve-step program involves seeking alignment with a personal concept of a higher power
Bill D. was AA's third member
Bill D., also known as "the man on the bed", was the third member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). He entered Akron City Hospital for his last detox on June 26, 1935, and achieved sobriety two days later on July 4, 1935, with the help of Dr. Bob S. of Akron, Ohio, and Bill W., a guest of Dr. Bob's from New York.
Bill D. was visited by these two sober alcoholics, who instructed him in the program that later became known as Alcoholics Anonymous. He admitted that he couldn't control his drinking and decided to turn his life over to God. He walked out of the hospital on July 4, 1935, never to drink again. This date marked the beginning of AA's Number One Group.
Bill D. was remembered by those in Akron as a "grand chap when sober" and one of the most engaging people they ever knew. He was not an ambitious man, but he was always willing to help others and offer counsel. He attended meetings every night, even though he never drove a car.
Bill D.'s story, as told by Bill W., was included in the second edition of the "Big Book", the colloquial name for Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism. The book, which was published in 1939, introduced the twelve-step program and provided the basis for the organization's name. The second edition was released in 1955, and the story of "AA Number Three" has been included in every edition since. Bill D. remained sober until his death in Akron, Ohio, on September 17, 1954—over nineteen years without a drink.
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He was a well-known attorney and city councilman
Bill D., also known as "The Man on the Bed", was Alcoholics Anonymous' third member. He was a well-known attorney and city councilman. He had a seemingly natural affinity for alcohol, with no childhood unhappiness to account for his alcoholism. Bill's wife was from Kentucky, and she accompanied him to Akron, where he completed his law degree at Akron Law School.
Bill was a patient at Akron City Hospital when he met AA co-founders Dr. Bob and Bill W. in June 1935. With their help, he got sober and became a pioneer member of Akron Group 1, the first AA group globally. By the time of his death, Bill had been sober for over nineteen years.
Bill's story is featured in the second edition of the "Big Book", the colloquial name for Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism. His story has been printed in every edition of the book since 1955 and has inspired many people on their journey to sobriety.
Bill's journey with alcoholism and his success in achieving sobriety through AA showcase the power of the program and the dedication of its founders. His story serves as a testament to the effectiveness of the twelve-step program and the positive impact of mutual support and sharing.
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He was admitted to Akron City Hospital for detox in 1935
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led mutual-aid fellowship focused on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism through its spiritually inclined twelve-step program. AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson, commonly referred to as Bill W., and Dr. Bob Smith, an Akron surgeon. The two met in Akron, Ohio, during a business trip by Bill W. and discovered a shared struggle with alcoholism.
Bill W. and Dr. Bob began working with alcoholics at Akron City Hospital, where they met Bill D., a lawyer and another "hopeless" alcoholic. Bill D. is credited as the third member of Alcoholics Anonymous and is also referred to as "the Man on the Bed" after a famous painting. Bill D. was admitted to Akron City Hospital for detox in 1935, where he promised to never drink again, a promise he kept for the rest of his life.
Bill W. and Dr. Bob's collaboration, influenced by the Christian revivalist Oxford Group, evolved into a mutual support group that eventually became AA. The two discovered the value of working with alcoholics who are still suffering and that even if the alcoholic they were working with did not stay sober, they did. Bill W. wrote, "Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics."
In 1939, the fellowship published Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism, colloquially known as the Big Book. This publication introduced the twelve-step program and provided the basis for the organization's name. The book was written by Bill W. and outlined AA's philosophy and methods, including the now well-known Twelve Steps of recovery. The book also included case histories of some thirty recovered members.
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He was visited by Dr. Bob and Bill W., who told him they had a cure for alcoholism
Bill D., also known as "The Man on the Bed", was the third member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). On June 26, 1935, he entered Akron City Hospital for his last detox. Two days later, he was visited by Dr. Bob Smith (Dr. Bob) of Akron, Ohio, and Bill Wilson (Bill W.), a guest of Dr. Bob's from New York.
Dr. Bob and Bill W. considered themselves "two sober alcoholics" who had found a cure for alcoholism. They believed that sharing their plan to quit drinking with another drunk would help them stay sober. Before visiting Bill D., Dr. Bob called the hospital and explained that he and his guest from New York had a cure for alcoholism.
Bill D. had been a well-known attorney and city councilman in Akron. However, his drinking had become a serious problem, and he had been hospitalized eight times in the last six months. Despite his previous success, his drinking had taken over, and he had resorted to violence, blackening the eyes of two nurses. He was strapped down tight when Dr. Bob and Bill W. first saw him.
Bill D.'s wife, Henrietta D., had spoken to Dr. Bob and Bill W. before their visit. She told them that her husband had previously managed to stay sober for long periods but had always relapsed. She also shared her fears that he lacked the sudden transformative experience that Bill W. had described.
Bill D. was initially sceptical of Dr. Bob and Bill W.'s approach, believing his case was too terrible to overcome. However, he agreed to listen to them, feeling it would be rude not to give them a chance, especially since they weren't asking for payment. This encounter marked the beginning of Bill D.'s journey to sobriety, and he remained sober until his death nineteen years later in 1954.
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The twelve-step program involves seeking alignment with a personal concept of a higher power
The twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles in addiction treatment that outline a course of action for tackling problems related to alcoholism, drug addiction, and behavioral compulsion. The first twelve-step program, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), was founded by Bill Wilson (commonly referred to as Bill W.) and Bob Smith (Dr. Bob) in 1935. The twelve steps suggest a program of ongoing drug rehabilitation and self-improvement.
The twelve steps are meant to be addressed sequentially, but there is no rigid timeline or "right" way to approach them. They are widely known and established, providing a framework for substance abuse treatment. The steps emphasize rigorous honesty, including a moral inventory, acknowledgment of character defects, and sharing this inventory with a trusted person. The program also involves making amends to individuals harmed and engaging in regular prayer or meditation.
The twelve steps are accompanied by the Twelve Traditions, which provide guidelines for group governance and healthy relationships within the group. These traditions stress principles such as lack of hierarchy, staying non-promotional, non-denominational, apolitical, and free participation. The Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Steps work together to provide a foundation for the AA program, offering a path to recovery and self-improvement for individuals struggling with alcoholism and addiction.
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Frequently asked questions
Bill D.
Bill D. was a well-known attorney in Akron and a city councilman.
June 26, 1935, the date he entered Akron City Hospital for his last detox.
Dr. Bob S. of Akron, Ohio, and Bill W., a guest of Dr. Bob's from New York.
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