September 19 in A.A. History

	In 1953, Paul S. [left] died in an automobile accident in Springfield Township, Ohio, southeast of Akron, Ohio [right: headstone]. Ironically, his brother Dick’s story in the first edition of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, is titled “The Car Smasher.” Paul got sober on 2 Jul 1936 (A.A. #10), and his story in the first edition is titled “Truth Freed Me!”

	In 1964, The Saturday Evening Post [left: cover] published the article “Alcoholics CAN Be Cured—Despite A.A” by Dr. Arthur H. Cain [right]. The lower left corner of the magazine cover featured a teaser that read, “Down with A.A.” The article said, in part,

    Unfortunately, A.A. has become a dogmatic cult whose chapters too often turn sobriety into slavery to A.A. Because of its narrow outlook Alcoholics Anonymous prevents thousands from ever being cured. Moreover A.A. has retarded scientific research into one of America’s most serious health problems.… Actually, there is no scientific evidence that alcoholism is an incurable, physical disease.… After all, sobriety in itself is not a way of life. It is simply the absence of intoxication. It is what one does with his sobriety and his life that is important.

In 2015, [±1 day] Bill W. was posthumously inducted into the Burr and Burton Academy Hall of Fame as the 2015 recipient of the Alumni Service Award, which recognizes “significant volunteer service to Burr and Burton and/or youth in the broader community” for those who “graduated 10 or more years ago.” The Hall of Fame was established in 2001, and in its 24 years, only 19 Alumni Service Awards [right: list of all recipients] have been given.