Bill W.

Bill W, born Bill Wilson, was the cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the largest support group for recovering alcoholics. In keeping with the AA principle of anonymity, Bill Wilson is most often referred to as Bill W Born in a time when temperance was taught in New England schools, few would believe Bill would struggle with alcoholism for years before becoming sober. His creation of an enterprise that has become an international fellowship of recovering alcoholics may be the single most important contribution to the field of alcohol recovery. His accomplishments earned him a doctorate from Yale University (which he refused) and a cover story in Time magazine.