Edwin Throckmorton Thacher (29 April 1896–21 March 1966) (commonly known as Ebby Thacher or Ebby T.), was an old drinking friend of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. and is credited with introducing Wilson to the initial principles that AA would soon develop, such as "one alcoholc talking to another." April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Logo for A.A. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an informal society of more than 2,000,000 recovered alcoholics in the United States, Canada, and other countries [1] These men and women meet in local groups, which range in size from a handful in some localities to many hundreds in... There have been several people of significance named Bill Wilson. ...

Thacher was a schoolfriend of Wilson, and battled his whole life with alcoholism, frequently landing in mental hospitals or jail. After one bender, two members of The Oxford Group, Rowland Hazzard and Cebra Graves, convinced the court to parole Thacher into their custody. Thacher then sobered up at The Oxford Group at Calvary Episcopal Mission in New York. Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ...

In November of 1934, Thacher arranged a visit to the Wilson house. Expecting to spend a day drinking and re-living old times Wilson was instead shocked by Thacher's refusal to drink. "I've got religion" he reportedly said to Wilson's surprise. Thacher told Wilson of the religious fellowship known as the Oxford Group, who helped alcoholics to stop drinking by performing various tasks such as making amends, acting as a witness to God's grace, admission of personal defeat, among others.

Wilson however, declined Thacher's invitation to sobriety, and continued to drink in a more restrained way for a short while, and then was admitted to Towns Hospital on December 11, 1934. Ebby visited him there on December 14th and essentially helped Bill take what would become Steps Four, Five, Six, Seven and Eight.

While Wilson stayed sober and eventually formed Alcoholics Anonymous with Dr. Bob, Thacher chose a different path and soon returned to drinking. Thacher struggled on and off with sobriety over the years, and ultimately died from emphysema in 1966. Bob Smith (Robert Holbrook Smith, b. ...

Thacher was portrayed by Gary Sinise in the 1989 TV My Name is Bill W., which dramatized the founding of AA. Gary Alan Sinise (born March 17, 1955) is an Emmy winning American actor and film director. ...

See also

• Bill Wilson
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• The Oxford Group
• Twelve-step program
• Twelve traditions
• Alcoholism
• Addiction

William Griffith Wilson (26 November 1895–24 January 1971) (commonly known as Bill Wilson or Bill W.), was a co-founder of the society Alcoholics Anonymous. ... Logo for A.A. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an informal society of more than 2,000,000 recovered alcoholics in the United States, Canada, and other countries [1] These men and women meet in local groups, which range in size from a handful in some localities to many hundreds in... A twelve-step program is a fellowship which aims at the recovery of its members from the consequences of an addiction, a compulsion, or another harmful influence on their lives, with the help of the faith-based Twelve Steps. ... The Twelve Traditions of Twelve-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous define the appropriate relationships between an AA group and its members, other groups, AA as a whole, and society at large. ... Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... Addiction is a mental or physical disorder proposed to be precipitated by a combination of genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors. ...

External links

• Ebby T. The Man Who Carried The Message To Bill W.
• Ebby Thacher's Eulogy By Bill W.