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PoBna ae pksnithe cad =» Bereabes 15) 17-0

To all my Brothers and Sisters in G,A, and Gamanon
"LEST WE FORGET"

Twenty three years ago today I met a man who saved my life. This man is responsible
for the good life being experienced by every member of GA, and Gamanon throughout
the world. I'm speaking about Jim W. the founder of Gamblers Anonymous. Jim W.

was a member of Acoholic's Anonymous and attempted to form a Gamblers Anonymous
fellowship in 1953 and 1955, but in both instances he was unsuccessful because, @6
he later related to some of us old timers, he couldn't find anyone who wanted to
stop gambling forever.

However, on Labor Day 1957 he and his very good friend in A.A., James B. appeared
on the Paul Coats T,V, program with paper sacks over their heads and was interviewed
by Paul Coats regarding the fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous. Both Jim and James
fibbed a little about the great fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous because G.A. wasn't
yet organized and had never had a formal meeting yet.

Paul Coats received about 50 letters as the result of this broadcast and he forwarded
them to Jim W. Jim's wife Sybil (also an A.A, member) wrote letters to all who
corresponded announcing a meeting would be held at 1805 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles,
Calif. on September 13 at 7:30 P.M.

Thirteen people attended. The compulsive gamblers were Jim W., Sam J., Ray M., EA T.,
Pet B. (a lady), e barber (no name) and another man who refused to give his name.

The six non-gamblers were Sybil (Jim W.'s wife) Ann (Ray M.'s wife) and two couples
who were members of A.A, and very good friends of Jim and Sybil.

At the next meeting, on September 20th, all of us appeared except the barber and the
no name member. This was the low point in G.A, but from that day G.A, continued to
grow week by week.

In January 1959 the Mayfair Group elected me as Secretary, responsible for all G.A.
activities throughout the United States. During this year Jim W. spent his entire
tine writing G.A, literature. He alone wrote the original three G.A. pamphlets,
—wesiemmectetism. He also started to write our first "Big G.A. Book" which he fin-
ished and published in 1964 and presented it to the G.A. fellowship at the G.A.
Western Conference in Fresno on June 27, 1964. Outside of the individual stories
Jim W. wrote every lest word contained in the first "G.A, Big Book".

There ere some of the old timers who had a hand in the structure of the beginning
of G.A, (1957-1960) but no one but Jim W. can be acclaimed as the sole originator
of the fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous. In other words he is the "FOUNDER" and
es such should have a niche in the annuals of G,A, history.

I believe Jim W. should be 60 recognized as our "FOUNDER" by inserting a tribute
to him on the inside cover of G.A,'5 new big book to be published in 1982 in
commermoration of G.A.'s 25th birthday. I think we owe this to Jim.

It matters not what Jim W. did for G.A, -what he didn't do for G.A, - what he

should have done for G,A, - or what he shouldn't have done for G.A, Regardless
of what - He is our "FOUNDER" and should always be remembered as such.

I had some differences with Jim W. in the early years regarding G. A. operations
because I felt we needed a "Guidance Code" to guide the functions of our fellowship.
I also believed in incorporating the National Service Office (N.S.Q) so that all
contributions to the N.S.0. were tax deductable. History has proven that the
Guidance Code was a needed instrument for the fellowship of G.A,

Jim W. left GA, because of his differences of philosophy about G.A, with the Board
of Trustees. The original Board of Trustees of which I was a member, tried for
over a month to convince Jim W. to remain with us under the juridiction of the
Guidance Code, but he refused.

Regardless of Jim's decision I still loved him and hoped he would soon return to
G.A, I kept in touch with Jim through the years after he left G.A, In July 1973

I picked up Jim W. and his wife ‘Norma" (second marriage) in my car at their home

at 5 A.M, and drove them to the airport bound for Phoenix, Arizona. Jim W. was to
have open heart surgery (a by-pass). During surgery Jim W. had a stroke and after
the operation he had difficulty in speaking and walking. This was in addition to
the fact that Jim W. was blind (according to California State standards.) For years
Jim W. has also been deaf and could only hear with the aid of an ear phone amplifier.

Several months ago Jim W. and his wife moved to Ventura, California. I kept in
constant touch with Jim W. by phone and letters until one day his wife Norma
advised me that she had to put Jim in a convalescent hospital in Oxnard, as she

could no longer care for him in a proper manner. Norma said Jim W. needed constant
medical attention.

About 6 or 7 weeks ago I called BigSteve P., our former National Executive Secretary
(he took office after Jim W. resigned in 1965) and asked him if he wanted to drive
up to Oxnard with me to see Jim W. We drove up to Oxnard and met Jim W. who threw
his arms around both of us with tears in his eyes. He was so happy to see us.

At first Jim W. couldn't hear us as his ear phone amplifier battery was dead. We
wheeled him in his wheel chair to his bed in his room, got a new battery for his
ear phone and spent close to two hours with him. We told him we wanted him to
attend G.A,'s 25th silver anniversary at Anaheim, California in July 1982. As

sick as Jim W. was (blind, can't hardly hear, bad heart, can't hardly walk, due to
hardening of the arteries), he bristled up and said "I'll be there’ - As we left
both Big Steve P. and I said we hoped (God willing) that Jim W. could attend G.A.'s
25th anniversary.

Howie C. of Las Vegas who is one of the main members responsible for the growth of
G.A, in Les Vegas, recently wrote me a letter saying he would like to have Jim We
and his wife Norma attend his l0th-birthday in August 1981 in Las Vegas. Howie
seid he was willing to pay for their expenses to Las Vegas and back to Oxnard if
Jim W. was physically able to make the trip. Howie further said in his letter,

“I hope that God doesn't need him before that date".

All of us from the oldest to the youngest in G.A, owes a debt of thanks and
gratitude to Jim W. our "FOUNDER". G,A, teaches us that we are all brothers and
sisters and regardless of any differences we may have had, that we should be
forgiving and to retain our brotherly love for each other

~3-

Jim W. is @ very lonely man who feels, outside a few,
Let's show Jim W, that everyone
FOUNDER" by sending him

uu Who is reading this artic
Also tell other G.A, members to
Tor what he did f

that G.A, has forgotten him,

in G.A, from the oldest to the youngest loves him

& get well card or @ppreciation card. Each one
le, please send a get well card to Jim w. today.
do the same. Let's make Jim W. know we love him
or.G.A, and us as individuals,
may direct your cards to Jim W. as follows:

Jim Willis

c/o Pleasant Valley Convalescent Hospital

5225 So. J Street

Oxnard, Calif. 93030

You

Sincerely, your brother through

Ray M.

(North Hollywood Group Calif.)

P.S, Will Jim W. get
you fi

2,000 or more get well car
owes tr

ds or only a handful because
ed to do your part? It's up to you, Please do your part. G.A.
8 to Jim W.