Ebby: The Man Who Sponsored Bill W.

Rating:
Summary: Essential AA History and a Fun Read!
Review: Mel B. has given us a gift in "Ebby, The Man Who Sponsored Bill W.". Finally, the question of, What ever happened to Ebby, is answered fully and interestingly. I especially enjoyed: 1. the social background of the relationship and friendship which led ultimately to Ebby's call on Bill W., 2. Ebby's particular but familiar character qualities that made continuous sobriety difficult for him, 3. Bill W.'s never ending love and respect for Ebby, his Sponsor, that literally sent AA's to the edge of the earth in a quest to 'get Ebby sobered up again', and 4. Mel B's tasteful insertion of "fun facts" throughout the text which will delight readers.

Ebby, came from a very prominent and wealthy Albany New York family. Both his father and brother served as Mayor of Albany and his brother came astonishingly close to becoming the Governor of New York when FDR left to become President. The family summered in the wealthy retreat of Manchester, Vermont where Ebby's father was a regular in the "Lincoln Golf Foresome" with Abraham Lincoln's only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln. It is in this resort-like Manchester setting where Ebby met Bill W. (and, indeed, where Bill W. met Lois Burnham who became his wife). Mel B. through his wonderfully flowing style will take you to Manchester for a bird's eye view of these New England Socialites.

Mel also does a great job of giving us hints about Ebby's character which will be familiar to all of us in recovery. Ebby was forever pointing the finger at other people, places and things as the source of his problems. You will also learn about the wonderful character assets Ebby had which made him so endering to his family and friends such as his gift with children and his single-mindedness and determination when he was engaged in a project which interested him.

You will get a great first hand account of Ebby firing a shotgun in downtown Manchester to rid himself of annoying Pigeons (birds not sponsees) who threatented his just completed paint job on the family property in Manchester. The legal consequences of this incident led to his sponsorship by Rowland H. (The rich Industrialist in the Big Book who Dr. Carl Jung told was hopeless unless he had a "vital spiritual experience") and ultimately to "Ebby's miracle". The miracle and new found sobriety led him to share his experience with Bill W.

Alas, Ebby did not maintain his sobriety. After about 2 and 1/2 years, he returned to drinking and this once dapper gentleman of colonial lineage was reduced to a homeless urchin roaming the streets of Manhattan in search of a handout and a drink. In fact, it was not uncommon for Ebby to beg in the offices of the newly formed AA, and at times pass out on the couch in the lobby.
Eventually, Ebby fell off the radar screen much to the sadness and grief of Bill and Lois W.

A group of men from Texas who were founding AA all over the Lone Star State and were feeling a deep debt of gratitude to Bill W. a frequent visitor, asked Bill what they could do next for him and the rapidly expanding AA. (Searcy W. had recently established a "drying out" clinic in Dallas.) Without hesitation, Bill said, " I would like for you to find Ebby and give him a chance to sober up in your clinic."

I leave you with one of Mel B's "fun facts" that color his text:
"After an early setback in Texas, Ebby would enjoy nearly seven years of continuous sobriety and would hold the same job for several years-an incredible achievment in view of his previous work record." I will leave the final chapters for you.

Scholars of AA must read this book, but it is not written for scholars. All members of AA and friends of AA who want to expand their historical perspective will enjoy and treasure this book. I could not put it down.