Ebby Thacher

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 Wilson. He is credited with introducing Wilson to the initial principles that AA would soon develop, such as "one alcoholic talking to another," and the Jungian thesis which was passed along to Rowland Hazard and, in turn, to Ebby that alcoholism could be cured by a "genuine conversion." (See Dick B.,The Conversion of Bill W., Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2006).

Thacher was a schoolfriend of Wilson, and battled his whole life with alcoholism, frequently landing in mental hospitals or jail. After one bender, three members of The Oxford Group, Rowland Hazard, F. Shepard Cornell, and Cebra Graves, convinced the court to parole Thacher into their custody. Rowland Hazard taught Ebby the Oxford Group principles and the idea that a conversion was needed between patients. Hazard lodged Ebby in the Calvary Rescue Mission, operated by the Calvary Episcopal Church in New York.

In November 1934, Thacher had arranged a visit to Wilson's apartment. 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 his conversion at the Rescue Mission and acquainted Wilson with the teachings of Rowland Hazard about the Oxford Group life-changing program and also the prescription of Dr. Jung for a conversion.

Wilson at first declined Thacher's invitation to sobriety, and continued to drink in a more restrained way for a short while, but he had discussed cure by the Great Physician as detailed by Dr. William D. Silkworth, went to Calvary Rescue Mission and was converted, and then was admitted to Towns Hospital on December 11, 1934 saying that he had "found something." Ebby visited him there on December 14th and essentially helped Bill take what would become Steps Four, Five, Six, Seven and Eight.

Wilson then decided to call on the Great Physician, offered himself to God as he then understood God, called out for help, and had his white flash experience. Ebby gave Bill a copy of the William James book on such conversions; and Bill devoured it, concluding that his own experience was a genuine conversion, and confirmed that view with Dr. Silkworth.

While Wilson stayed sober and eventually formed Alcoholics Anonymous with Dr. Bob, Thacher chose a different path and soon returned to drinking. Wilson always called Ebby his "sponsor," and even though Ebby had returned to drinking, Wilson looked after his welfare for the rest of Ebby's life. Thacher struggled on and off with sobriety over the years, and ultimately died sober in New England from emphysema in 1966.

Thacher was portrayed by Gary Sinise in the 1989 TV My Name is Bill W., which dramatized the founding of AA.