June 16, 1983 – William ‘Wild Bill’ Sackter dies in Iowa City at the age of 70.

In 1974, film screenwriter Barry Marrow came to Iowa City from Minneapolis to take a new job with the University of Iowa’s School of Social Work. With him, came Bill Sackter – a 60-year old recluse who had been institutionalized for 44 years, yet through his friendship with Marrow had found new purpose in living. Over the next eight years, ‘Wild Bill’ became known throughout Iowa City, and when CBS ran a made-for-TV movie on his amazing story in December 1981, the whole country found a new national hero.

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