1961

The final diary. Sobriety and AA dominate the year.

The Count

In 2nd St ofc. Took last drink today. (January 15)

JJL tracks his sobriety with the same precision he once brought to infant feeding schedules and bank balances: “16 days” on January 31. “65 days” on March 21. “5 months” on June 15. He and Neva attend AA meetings almost every night — Downtown Group, Town Group, Suburb Group, South Austin Group.

On March 21, he chairs the program at the downtown group at sixty-five days sober.

Other Threads

Bill is accepted for a Ford Foundation PhD scholarship on March 10. JJL takes spoken Japanese classes at the University of Texas, Batts Hall. He is elected Director, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Georgetown Railroad Board.

Relapse

On August 19, at a cabin near Angleton: “1 beer at Glenda Moore Cabin near Angleton. First alcohol since Jan 15, 61.” The count resets. October 13 marks the last drink of another attempt. Drinking resumes in November and December, tracked daily — beer and highballs. Then: “No Alch Bvg today” on December 20.

Granddaughter

On November 22, a granddaughter: Brenda Jean Ledbetter, born at 1:00 a.m. at St. David’s Hospital, seven pounds, to Jack and Gerry Ledbetter.

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The 1961 diary is the last surviving diary from Col. John Jackson Ledbetter Jr. He died on July 19, 1963, at the age of sixty-one. He is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas, Section PE, Grave 421C.