April 13, 1913 – Iowa City’s own – William “Wild Bill” Sackter – is born in St. Paul, Minnesota to Sam and Mary Sackter – Russian Jewish immigrants who run a small grocery store on the north side of the city.
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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