Dr. Bob License Plates Reading "OOOOPS"! Like Father, Like Son

AA Grapevine, June 1974

Robert R. Smith, fifty-four, who recently installed on his slightly acci- dent-prone wife Betty's car special Dr. Bob license plates reading "OOOOPS"! Like father, like son. The Smiths (they have two sons and two daughters) live in Nocona, A journey into the past Tex., where Bob is office manager in search of more intimate knowledge of the Jack Mercer Well Servicing Company, treasurer of the Oil Well of our co-founder Servicing Contractors Association (of the United States and Canada), a member of the board of Nocona Hospital, and a former member of F'TER CONJECTURING idly for a widely photographed and document- late parents' long-time home at 855 the Nocona School Board. number of years, but with an ed thirtieth President of the United Ardmore Avenue. She was married Betty Smith joyfully told this ques- Aincreasing desire and need to know, States — whereas Dr. Bob (to quote to the late Ernie G., AA's member tioner of her first encounter with the this nosy member of the Fellowship Bill, his fellow Green Mountain Boy Number Four, whom she described senior Smiths: "I flew with my Bob decided recently to go forth and dis- and co-founder of AA) had "risen as producer of "the first slip in AA. to Akron to meet his parents before cover the Real Dr. Bob. to anonymous world renown." "They didn't quite know what to our marriage — almost thirty years Through the written word, but Moreover, if the six-foot-two, rug- do with him," explained Sue (or ago. I had never heard of AA. We more effectively through personal ged-framed, bespectacled New Eng- "Tee," her father's nickname for went to a meeting that night, and I contact, I had come to know some- lander with the broad accent and her.) "I never did find out what to heard my first AA talk. I was almost thing of Bill W. beyond his basic broader smile had not died (in do with him." The marriage ended overwhelmed — my father had a drunkalog. But the good doctor had 1950), he would be ninety-four years in divorce. problem, and my mother and I were died before my time in AA, and my old now, and there are few Vermont Concerning the impact upon the pouring it down the sink. I said to opportunity to study him closely had or Ohio contemporaries surviving to family of Dr. Bob's alcoholism, Sue Dad Smith, This is such a marvel- been limited. reminisce. told this interviewer that "things ous program. You must be so proud!' So I began to explore the story- I did, though, come up with some were pretty rough before he got into "I tell you truly, that was a no-no. behind-the-story of the Akron sur- clues. AA. But after that, things were extra He looked at me with his steely eyes geon who has been a vital influence There is, for instance, daughter nice. When it came to a sense of till half of me melted right there, in my life. I discovered that nobody Suzanne's reaction to her adoptive humor, he had it — although my and he said, 'It is nothing I have can discover the "real" anybody. father's career as an active and later brother is a close second. The whole done — I have merely been used.' The late Dr. Robert Holbrook as a recovering alcoholic. family had good laughs, and it was "I went home waving the AA Smith is not the easiest subject for Sue, who was a teen-ager when really a happy time. Of course," Sue book at my mother and said, 'We research. His fellow alumnus at pres- Dr. Bob and Bill founded AA in added, "things don't always stay that have the answer.'" Betty's father tigious St. Johnsbury (Vt.) Acad- 1935, is now employed in the library way, due to boy friends and growing (now deceased) later was co-found- emy, Calvin Coolidge, had departed at Kent State University and lives in up. But as I look back, it was great." er of a group in Clovis, N.M., where the campus to become eventually the Akron a mile and a half from her The brother Sue referred to is he and the group prospered.

Robert R. was sixteen when his of tennis they played together at one member of the local AA group, Joe father and Bill W. founded the Fel- time and of his dad's extraordinary C., sat me down for a chat on a lowship. Because "young" Bob was fitness," Betty Smith recalled. "He lobby sofa he said had often been unavoidably preoccupied with a busi- played bridge with the best of them. used by the Smiths on annual back- ness problem, wife Betty spoke for We used to play with Mom and home visits. him (and for herself) in discussing Dad, and they would teach us some Later, I walked one block west of that period. of the finer points — they were both the hotel to a nineteenth-century "I loved both Mom and Dad very good." white clapboard residence occupied calf and he said he would sell it to Smith very deeply (though I still had Dr. Bob was "very tall and fast for the last thirty-three years by Mr. me for a dollar. Mama says if there's both my parents that I was also in — always took off at a run," Sue and Mrs. Roland T. La Perle. They any thing we need it is a bull. I went love with). When they would come remembered. "Liked to play cards, served me coffee on the broad veran- fishing Wednesday and caught about to see us, Dad Smith and I had a travel, read — he wasn't idle much da that fronts the Central and Sum- ten fish and a lizard. I have got the thing going about gin rummy. We of the time. We often used to take mer Streets sides of the house, and lizard in an pan of water and I ex- would shout ugly words at each long hikes in the woods with Dad — told me they were pleased to learn pect to put him in alcohol. Pa got other, and we both had a marvelous my brother and myself and a dog. that a co-founder of AA had been me a new bridle and saddle blanket time. His sense of humor was always We had great times like that. He born in a front bedroom above us. and I ride every day. I enjoy it very at peak. Also, I do not know how loved to take his car down a dirt In the course of a childhood out- much. Come up here as soon as you many times he came up to me and road to see where it went. door comradeship, Bob and his can. slipped me a fifty and said, 'This is "Dad played cards every Monday much older foster sister, Amanda With much love just between us — spend it any way night for as long as I can remember, (later nicknamed "Aunt Nancy") Robert H Smith you like.' I tried once not to take it, and he always 'broke even,'" said Northrup, swam and sailed together and that was a big mistake. Sue. "We never actually knew how in Sleepers River on St. Johnsbury's In later years, Miss Northrup was "We all had talks about profound he came out, which is the way he southwest outskirt, and at the Smith a history professor at Hunter Col- things. You know, Dad read for at wanted it. He also would buy things summer spot on Lake Champlain. lege in New York City. least two hours every evening. Most for himself and put them in his After one of her visits with the After my visit at the house where unusual to have the great humor dresser drawers and then come up Smiths, Amanda received from ten- Dr. Bob was born, I strolled two with the profundities. Or is it? with 'I found it in my dresser' — so year-old Bob a note on lined note- blocks to the two-story, red-brick "One of Dad's favorite hobbies your guess is as good as mine as to book paper: Summer Street School, attended by was driving sleek sports cars. And the outcome of his card-game fi- our surgeon-to-be between 1885 and he liked very good clothes and wore nances." St Johnsbury Vt 1894. It was in the corridors and them. He had a fondness for dia- On another point, too, there is no May 4 1890 classrooms of this elementary school monds and other precious gems and dispute. In competition, Dr. Bob's Dear Miss Northrop that Bob first publicly demonstrated wore them and bought them for Number Two and Number Three I have been meaning to write you his quiet waywardness and rebellion Mom. When she died, he gave me a goals were recreation and physical every day but have been putting it against strict parental discipline. To beautiful diamond that was hers, and fitness. His Number One goal? Vic- off till now. I thank you very much schoolmates, he was known as "Rob," I will cherish it forever." tory. This he demanded of himself. for sending me the pictures and and later, to Bill W., as "Smithy." The Smiths in Texas and Sister I checked in one morning at the book. I have enjoyed the book very His teachers called him "Rob-ert!" Sue in Akron agree that Dr. Bob weathered, 123-year-old yellow frame much and hope you will read it when "Rob-ert's" father, Judge Walter was a skilled swimmer, sailor, fisher- St. Johnsbury House, a hotel at the you come up here again. I went over Perrin Smith of the Caledonia Coun- man, tennis player, and card shark. hub of Dr. Bob's Northeastern Ver- to Mr Harrington and played with ty (Vt.) Probate Court, was also a "My Bob has told me how many sets mont hometown. There, an old-time Rover the dog. They have a bull state's attorney, member of the state

legislature, superintendent of St. amined the impressive ten-building Following his graduation from the proaching a level of desperation and Johnsbury schools, director of the complex that serves St. Johnsbury academy, Bob studied and drank degradation below which he would Merchants National Bank, and pres- Academy, established in 1842 with beer for four years at Dartmouth be unwilling to descend, Mrs. Seib- ident of the Passumpsic Savings the philanthropic aid of the local College, where he received a B.A. erling quoted him as confessing, at Bank. Fairbanks (platform-scale) brothers degree in 1902; worked and remain- another Oxford session early in But most significantly, in a sense, as an independent secondary school ed afloat at various jobs for two 1935: "I am going to tell you some- he was active in the towering, gray "for the intellectual, moral, and re- years; entered the University of thing which may cost me my profes- stone North Congregational Church ligious training of boys and girls in Michigan as a premedical student sion. I am a silent drinker, and I and a "great light" in its Sunday Northeastern Vermont." It was at a and binge drinker in 1905; later can't stop." school for forty years. He insisted dance in the gym here in 1898, his matriculated at Rush Medical Col- Henrietta, nicknamed "Henri" by that his son attend five services week- senior year, that Dr. Bob was intro- lege in Chicago as a junior; won an Dr. Bob, is a native of Kentucky ly, including Wednesday-night prayer duced to Anne Robinson Ripley of MD degree with outstanding grades and the widowed daughter-in-law of meetings — until, that is, Bob grew Moline, Ill., by Anne's weekend host- there in 1910 and obtained a covet- the late Frank A. Seiberling, founder old enough to rebel and quit church- ess and fellow Wellesley College ed two-year internship at Akron City and first president of the Goodyear going for two-score years. undergraduate, Laila McNeil. Hospital. Two years later, he opened Tire & Rubber Company. She now Daughter Sue strongly supports After a whirlwind courtship of an office for private practice in Ak- lives in New York City and, al- the theory that Dr. Bob's strict up- seventeen years, Bob and his "pleas- ron's Second National Bank Build- though a nonalcoholic, remains close bringing was at least in part respon- ingly plump frail" were married at ing. By 1935 (as Bill relates the to AA. sible for his stubborn resistance to story in Alcoholics Anonymous Much has previously been pub- authority. Comes of Age), Dr. Bob had been lished to confirm the fact of Dr. "Dad appeared to be very stern," dropped from the hospital staff, and Bob's humility and strong spiritual she said. "But he wasn't at all, ex- his practice was nearly gone. faith. To this, his daughter-in-law, cept when he felt he really had to Mrs. Henrietta McBrayer Buckler Betty Smith, has added: "My favor- be. He was quite a softy and was Seiberling, as an active follower of ite remark by Dad was in a talk. He extremely concerned for his patients. the Oxford movement, introduced said, 'Christ said, "Of myself I am As a father, he was the best. He was the dry Bill W. to the still-drinking nothing. My help cometh from my loving and at the same time would Dr. Bob in her Akron gatehouse Father in Heaven." Then how about want to be obeyed. He was fun to residence on the day after Mother's you and me? Prayer is vital.' be with. I enjoyed many an evening Day in 1935. She attested to the "Dad suspected that he had can- playing cards and had as good a surgeon's humility and trust in a cer five years before it was diag- time with him as I have ever had Higher Power: "One day in our dell, nosed," said Betty. "I know of his with anyone. Kids don't usually say shortly before Bob and Bill met, the suspicions because he told me of that about their parents. He also doctor led an Oxford Group meet- them. When he made his last talk, gave us a certain amount of free- the home of Anne's mother, Mrs. ing and chose as his subject a pas- in Cleveland [at the first Interna- dom. As I look back, I see he was Joseph Pierce Ripley, in Oak Park, sage from the First Book of Samuel, tional Convention of AA], he had the ahead of his time, or didn't want us Ill., "at half after eight o'clock" on Chapter 3, Verse 10: 'And the Lord diagnosis. We left directly after the to go through what he did when he January 25, 1915. "I don't know came, and stood, and called as at meeting, and Bob, Dad, and I went was a child and had to go to bed at why the delay," said Sue, "but there other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then for a tour of New England — stop- five o'clock in the evening — that was a lot of schooling and interning Samuel answered, Speak; for thy ping, of course, in St. Johnsbury. We sort of thing." to do. Mother taught school for servant heareth.'" all had a great time in spite of Dad's I returned to Main Street and ex- some of that time, I've heard." To prove that Dr. Bob was ap- illness. His faith was superb."

It was a little more than four in Alcoholics Anonymous during her months after that "Keep it simple" seven years of illness, before she talk that Dr. Bob remarked to his died of pneumonia at the age of attendant in Akron City Hospital, sixty-eight on June 1, 1949. Lois "I think this is it." Then he died, of W., Bill's widow, recalled that "An- prostate cancer, on November 16, nie was clear-thinking and, although 1950. a nonalcoholic, wisely counseled At the funeral in St. Paul's Epis- many members of the Fellowship." copal Church, Akron, the Reverend Dr. Bob's identity as a co-founder Walter F. Tunks (through whom Bill of AA was disclosed to the general W., identifying himself as "a rum public in published reports of Anne's hound from New York," had arrang- death. In an editorial accompanying ed his original meeting with Dr. its obituary, the Akron Beacon Jour- Bob) noted in a eulogy the doctor's nal wrote, "It seems a pity Mrs. strong conviction that "no man need Smith's wonderful work could not stay the way he is — with God's have received the public's recogni- help, he can throw off the chains of tion while she still lived, [but] she any enslaving habit and be free again must have known of the gratitude in to be what God wants him to be." the hearts of the many persons she In St. Johnsbury — roughly 100 had helped.... Akron should always miles northeast of Bill W.'s birth- be proud of the AA movement which place, East Dorset, Vt. — the Fel- was born here and proud of the fine lowship Group meets on Wednesday woman who did so much to foster nights, with an average attendance that movement." of thirty-five, in a second-floor club- Speaking for "young" Bob and room above the Northern Auto Sup- herself, Betty Smith said that "Mom ply, Inc., shop at 26 Railroad Street. was a rock. She was a person that The site is in an industrial section, others leaned upon. She was a per- facing the yard of the St. Johnsbury son of compassion, patience, and & Lamoille Railroad, a few miles courage. Not only did she endure west of the New Hampshire border. the rocky times, but after the pro- Late in 1946, Dr. Bob spoke at gram was started and they had alco- the first-anniversary meeting of the holics living in the house, she was group, Ed G. recalled. Ed was a once chased by a fellow with a newcomer to the program when he butcher knife." heard that talk by an eleven-year Two final notes: Robert R. im- man, and he is still very active in the bibes socially, but has not developed group. a drinking problem; Sue has ac- Despite a heart ailment and in- quired no compulsion and drinks creasing blindness, Anne Smith re- socially "if I want to." mained Dr. Bob's "silent partner" J. W. S., New Hampshire

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