December1975 PassingofJackAlexander RecallsEarlyAAGrowth OurFellowshiphasreason tobeforever grateful toJack Alexander,who died on September 17 in St.Petersburg,Fla.,at 73.AA wasless than sixyearsold,with amembershiparound2,000,when thereporterandmagazinewriterwasassigned todoaSaturdayEveningPostarticleon the obscuregroup ofrecovering alcoholics. Jack approachedthejobskeptically but endedhis research as “a true AA convert in spirit,in the words of cofounder Bill W.The article (now reprinted as an AA pamphlet,“The Jack Alexander Article”)waspublished in the March 1,1941,issue–and by the end of thatyear,AA membershiphad reached8.000!IntheMay1945 Grapevine, Jack told the story-behind-the-story, “Were theAAsPulling MyLeg? DuringJack’s1951-56serviceasanonalcoholictrusteeontheAAGeneralServicc Board,he“added the final editorial touch”to the manuscript of the“Twelve andTwelve.He wasa senioreditor on thePostathisretirement,in1964.After heandhiswife(who survives him) movedtoFlorida,hekeptin touch with AAuntilhishealthbegan tofail.