Jim B was 36 years, two months, four days sober, an atheist, and one of the first few dozen to get sober in Alcoholics Anonymous when he died September 8th, 1974. Jim B outlived both “official” founders, Dr. Bob and Bill W.
Listen here for the moving stroll down the lane of AA history.
For a twist to the story, visit Rebellion Dogs Radio page. As Jim B was drawing his last breathes in San Diego, across the continent in Montreal, a teenage boy is spared from death from asphyxiation, being found in the wee hours, laying face up in his own vomit in his high school arena. Thanks to the kindness of strangers and medical intervention, the boy is spared an alcoholic death. As an AA pioneer passes on, the same day, a recovery journey begins. Details of these overlapping AA journeys can be found in the link above.
This recording, the memorial service of Jimmy Burwell is a number of puzzle pieces of AA history.
Rosa Burwell, his widow was there of course. She has the distinction of being the first Southern California female delegate to the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Marge was only the second female California delegate; she was 11 years sober at the memorial and remembers being at Jim’s 25-year celebration, early in her sobriety.
Roy recalls Jim bringing AA to Philadelphia, Just months before this memorial, a telegram would be received, informing Rosa and Jim that 1,150 AA members celebrated the anniversary of the group Jim B started in Philly. The telegram boasted that they could have sold 1,000 more tickets if they had room for them all.
Eunice knew Jim from AA in Washington, saw him again reading the Steps in a meeting in San Diego. Eunice and Rosa became the best of friends.
Sybil C got sober in LA March 21, 1941, the first AA woman West of the Mississippi River. From the lectern, Sybil shared about early AA plays of the day (Jackie B, did you already know this?!? Jackie’s written a play about AA history that features Sybil prominently). As the story is told by Sybil, the LA play featured an unabashed atheist from formative New York AA. During a local performance, Sybil sneaked Jim B into the wings to come on stage, playing himself before an unsuspecting audience. The place went wild with enthusiasm.