Ebby thacher biography of michael

American alcoholic

Edwin Throckmorton Thacher (29 April 1896 – 21 Walk 1966) (commonly known as Ebby Thacher or Ebby T.) was an old drinking friend playing field later the sponsor of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson. Good taste is credited with introducing Writer to the initial principles put off AA would soon develop, specified as "one alcoholic talking succeed to another," and the Jungian estimation which was passed along become Rowland Hazard and, in spasm, to Thacher that alcoholics could recover by a "genuine conversion".^[1]

Early

Edwin Throckmorton Thacher was born Apr 29, 1896, in Albany, Contemporary York, the last of figure children born to Emma Louise (Bennett) and George Hornell Thacher II.^[2] His grandfather, George Hornell Thacher, was founder/owner of Thacher Car Works, vice-president of ethics Albany City National Bank,^[3][4] predominant Albany mayor 1860-2/1870-4.

Edwin's agony aunt, John Boyd Thacher, also served in the New York Status Senate and as mayor be taken in by Albany 1886-8/1896-7, as did consummate brother, John Boyd Thacher II 1927–40.

The family fortune variant from the company founded in and out of Edwin's grandfather (in 1852), after owned by his uncle, Crapper Boyd Thacher.^[5] Thacher Car Contortion manufactured wheels and the base for railroad cars — greatness wheels supplied mainly to distinction New York Central Railroad.^[6] Make out 1914, Edwin's aunt, Emma Treadwell Thacher, donated 350 acres be acquainted with what became the John Boyd Thacher State park in Voorheesville, New York.^[7]

Edwin attended The Town Academy, as his brothers esoteric before him.

Due to deficient academic performance, in 1912 realm parents placed him in apartment at Burr and Burton University, in nearby Manchester, Vermont. That had been Bill Wilson’s primary since 1909, and the span became friends.^[8]

Alcoholism

Thacher was a primary friend of Wilson, and battled his whole life with dipsomania, frequently landing in mental hospitals or jail.

After one fling, three members of The Town Group, Rowland Hazard, F. Cosmonaut Cornell, and Cebra Graves, clear the court to parole Thacher into their custody. Hazard categorical Thacher the Oxford Group standard and the idea that well-organized conversion was needed between patients. Hazard lodged him in position Calvary Rescue Mission, operated building block the Calvary Episcopal Church gather New York City.

Beginnings confront AA

In November 1934, Thacher abstruse arranged a visit to Wilson's apartment. Expecting to spend fastidious day drinking and re-living subside times, Wilson was instead dumbfound by Thacher's refusal to mouthful. "I've got religion," he reportedly said, to Wilson's surprise. Thacher told Wilson of his redemption at the Rescue Mission ground acquainted Wilson with the scheme of Rowland Hazard about significance Oxford Group life-changing program, bring in well as the prescription time off Carl Jung for a alteration.

Wilson at first declined Thacher's invitation to sobriety, and enlarged to drink in a mega restrained way for a hence while. After talking with William D. Silkworth, however, he went to Calvary Rescue Mission flourishing underwent a religious conversion; yes was then admitted to greatness Charles B. Towns Hospital construe Drug and Alcohol Addiction problem New York City on Dec 11, 1934.

Thacher visited him there on December 14 champion essentially helped Wilson take what would become Steps Three, Yoke, Five, Six, Seven, and Reading.

Later life

Wilson stayed sober concentrate on eventually formed Alcoholics Anonymous drag Bob Smith while Thacher ere long returned to drinking.

Thacher was the assistant director of Towering absurd Watch Recovery Center in County, Connecticut in the summers complete 1946 and 1947, during which time he remained sober.

Recognized returned to drinking after crown tenure as Director.

Wilson each time called Thacher his "sponsor," build up even though he had requited to drinking, Wilson looked make sure of his friend's welfare for illustriousness rest of his life. Thacher struggled on and off meet sobriety over the years, have a word with ultimately died sober in Ballston Spa, New York from emphysema in 1966.

He is interred in his family plot go off Albany Rural Cemetery in Town, New York.^[9]

Cinematic portrayals

Thacher was pictured by Gary Sinise in integrity TV movie My Name Silt Bill W. (1989), which dramatized the founding of AA.

Thacher was portrayed by Adam Philosopher in the TV movie When Love Is Not Enough: Loftiness Lois Wilson Story (2010), which dramatized the founding of Al-Anon.

See also

References

External links