Hank Parkhurst

Henry Giffen "Hank" Parkhurst (March 13, 1895 – January 18, 1954) was an executive and one of the early architects of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

Parkhurst worked for Standard Oil as an executive before losing his job as a result of alcoholism.

Early life and career Parkhurst was born in Marion, Iowa, on March 13, 1895.

Alcoholics Anonymous After meeting Wilson in 1935, Parkhurst became one of the first New York members to achieve sustained sobriety and is often noted as "AA #2" in the New York contingent. He maintained a pragmatic, sometimes agnostic outlook that influenced drafting choices in the Big Book, including language such as "God as we understood Him."

Works Publishing and the Big Book In 1938, Wilson and Parkhurst formed Works Publishing to fund and publish the fellowship’s text. in Newark helped prepare the manuscript. Parkhurst also organized promotional efforts for the 1939 launch.

By 1940, ownership of the Big Book and Works Publishing stock was transferred to AA’s Alcoholic Foundation; Wilson first assigned his shares, and Parkhurst, who had returned to drinking, later transferred his as well.

Newark office and related ventures Parkhurst’s Newark offices (including the Calumet Building and later 17 William Street

Later life and death Parkhurst’s later years included periods of relapse. He died at Mercer Hospital in Pennington, New Jersey on 18 January 1954. Evaluations of his legacy in AA histories emphasize his energetic role in getting the Big Book written, financed, and distributed despite personal struggles.

"Without Hank Parkhurst’s vision and practical efforts, the Big Book might never have come into existence, and AA’s message might never have spread as widely as it did. His personal struggles, however, led to his marginalization in AA’s history."

Works "To Employers", in Alcoholics Anonymous (1st ed., 1939) "The Unbeliever", personal story in Alcoholics Anonymous (1st ed., 1939)