April 15 in A.A. History

In 1950, Melvin “Mel” B. [near right] got sober in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) while a patient at the state hospital in his hometown of Norfolk, Nebraska. He attended his first 12-step meeting in 1948. Mel was the principal author of Pass It On [far right], A.A.’s authorized biography of co-founder Bill W. He also published more than 50 articles in the A.A. Grapevine and authored at least seven A.A.-related books.

In 1961, the “All-Day” 4th Annual New York A.A. Convention took place at the Engineering Societies’ Building [left, 2008], located at 29 W. 39th St. in New York City. It was sponsored by the Southeastern District of the New York State General Service Committee, now known as Area 49, SouthEastern New York (SENY).