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Clinton Thompson ‘Duke’ Paddock (3/18/1905-3/7/2002); married 1931 (70 years) to Catherine Northern Paddock in (6/19/1906?-1/31/2001). Obituary online.
Outstanding interview, well-recorded & audible, by SoCal archivist of an early Ohio AA sober in 1940 (in Toledo OH) under Dr. Bob’s care. Excellent & accurate recollection, chock full of data easily confirmed from the ‘Akron 226 List’ (Sept 1940). Attending this recording are Wife Katie, Miles ? and ??.
00:45 A salesman for P&G; transferred to Toldeo OH on 1-1-1940.
01:09 Drinking pattern changed, from Daily to Periodic drinker; because he got caught.
02:00 Last drink 8-15-40, took wash to laundry and got some gin & Silver Spray to drink in park
02:30 Lone drinker, conscience bothered him; threw away gin and
03:00 got in car to get smthg for his breath, got in accident, company car totaled, he hurt arm
03:30 he had to call employer/friend, to tell him; employer concerned but told him not to worry
04:00 he goes on short v
04:50 by letter, employer calls him & wife in for interview, 9/6/40
04:55 employer (from Cleveland) cited Rollie Helmsley incident introducing AA solution
05:45 Alcoholics Anonymous publicly revealed; employer remembered all this and told wife
06:25 employer described AA as “psychologically sound and spiritually sane”
06:30 “a couple men will come see you, do whatever they say; if you have to go to Akron for a weekened, fine” company will pay the bills
07:05 “these men came to see me … Eddie Broer? And Charles J. Kirschner ‘C.J.’ … both deceased
07:35 “Eddie had been in 7 insane asylums and 35 sanitariums … CJ’s father was paying him to stay out of Toldeo they had been in the insane asylum, read the book in the Fall 1939, so impressed they left voluntary commitment to live in Akron;
08:00 Kirschner Sr. paid for their appt (had the Toledo appt in Akron?)
08:25 ex-alkies thanked Duke for opportunity to share their story
09:00 Eddie and CJ invited him down to Akron for weekend 9/13 – 9/15/40 (had the Toledo appt in Akron?)
09:10 he (Duke) and wife read what literature was available: the original pamphlet 1940 (New York version of Larry Jewel’s Houston Pamphlet), from the employer
09:35 employer: it was considered essential that the non-alcoholic spouse be educated what we are trying to do, first
09:45 just before he left (9/14?), he read the only copy of BB in Toledo; wife thought it was “fiction!”
10:20 they drove down to Akron in two cars (affluent), wife returned to Todelo ; wife said to herself (Duke says) “What kind of sucker are you, to send your husband to stay w/ a couple of alumni of the insane asylum!”
10:40 Duke was admitted to City Hospital, “before the days of Sister Ignatius”
10:55 admitted under diagnosis of acute gastritis under care of Dr. Smith “all alcoholics have acute gastritis” (he was neither drunk nor infirm)
11:30 cites 1st ed story ‘Fired Again’ of Wally Gillam
11:55 went to Gillam’s home (released under care of AAs); AAs were discussing how to get money for hospital bill of drunk on the ward – { digression on how ‘Jesus did it’: Christian evidence for Akron in late 1940}
13:00 Jesus: “when two or more of ye are gathered together in my name, there I will be also” like AA, “there is where they got the answer”, it was proven, etc.
14:10 Wally took Duke to kitchen, for (Ebby-Bill type) table encounter
14:45 “Do you want too join?” “I don’t know, I’ve got pride” Wally: “You’ve got to get rid of that goddamn pride of yours!”
15:00 Wally was handsome, like President Harding; told his story
15:20 Wally was fired off WPA, completely unemployable; judge exiled W. from Akron & Cuyahoga
16:00 Dr. Bob found him in a hobo jungle, brought him before Akron judge to “sponsor” him (legal status): Dr. Bob was considered rehabilited and respected 1.5 years later – Wall is sober in 1936???
16:20: “Dr. Bob was described as the man who might or might not sure your hemorrhoids”
16:30 Judge admonished Wally he would go to jail forever if he reappeared as defendant
{nothing here that suggests Wally was a slipper; Wally was considered a “failure” by Bill W. and other sources state he was long angry about the book deal, that it wasn’t Xtian, etc.}
16:45 “Wally had sponsored many guys” he gave Duke a lesson in humility
16:55 Duke doesn’t like word humility, prefers “courtesy” on 12th Step calls; key precept
17:50 returns to hospital; next morning appear 4 Men: a Lawyer (George Carson) , a Banker (Cleveland: Clarence Snyder?), a Garbageman {Name?} and a Bum {Name?}.
18:00 Banker: First Things First “Absolute Unselfishness”?
18:00 Lawyer: most profane man ever;“there are ‘no musts’ is bullsh*t” “you’re a liar, you gonna wear yourself out, just tell the truth” represented “Absolute Honesty”
19:35 Four Absolutes of Oxford Group {still a focus in 1940} Garbageman: “Absolute Purity”
DoS c.April 1939: Superintendent of Dept of Sanitation; “show me the kind of guts a man has”
20:45 Bum, DoS 7/4/40, drinking on street for 7 yrs, 4 blacked out, represented “Absolute Love”
20:45 Bum, DoS 7/4/40, best looking bum you ever saw; drinking hobo on street for 7 yrs, 4 in a blackout, didn’t own clothes on his back represented “Absolute Love” – St. Paul.
22:10 Sam ??? , whose sister was the Nurse on floor;
22:55 Dr. Bob arrive on Sunday morning w/ coffee: radiated charm, love, confidence; made you feel good
23:30 Dr. Bob: “Duke, everything is going to be alright”
23:55 Like Jesus: “Let not your hearts be troubled” a command, property right of piece of mind. That’s what Dr. Bob was saying…
25:00 after Dr. Bob left, “I was a liar, kept secrets, etc.” – no white light experience – he confessed Steps 5th and 9th on long drive to Youngstown OH, hotel (for work?)
26:10 Visiting Neal Kennedy’s house: wife alarmed at prospect of meeting strangers. “this is a new way of life.”