1978 – The Bill Sackter Story.

In the late summer of 1975, Bill Sackter – a 62-year-old ward of the State of Minnesota – left Minneapolis to come to Iowa City. Now officially “adopted” by Barry Morrow as Bill’s conservator, Sackter, who had spent 44 years in a state mental institution, was about to embark on an eight-year journey (1975-1983) that would eventually transform all who came in touch with this special man. You can read more here.

One year later – in the summer of 1976 – Barry, who worked as a media specialist with the University of Iowa School of Social Work, sat down to write Bill’s amazing story of transition. That essay – Bill’s Triumph – soon won, for Bill, the 1976 – Handicapped Iowan of the Year Award, which led to Bill and Barry attending the national awards ceremony in Washington D.C. in the fall of 1977. Which brings us now to…

As you’ll see below, back in his hometown of Minneapolis, the Bill Sackter story was beginning to make the news. On October 22, 1978, The Minneapolis Tribune published Bill’s story in a big splash in their Sunday magazine section – Picture. Here, on this page, we’d like to share with you the many pictures and written content of this eight-page layout. We hope you’ll enjoy this trip back to 1978, knowing that it was publicity like this that soon led CBS Television to contact Barry Morrow in Iowa City with the idea of making Bill’s Triumph into a made-for-TV movie featuring the Hollywood star – Mickey Rooney. More details here.

*Here’s the opening two-page layout in **The Minneapolis Tribune Picture Magazine** – **October 22, 1978**.*

For those who grew up in Iowa City, you might remember the carnival rides, including the big merry-go-round at Iowa City’s City Park. Read more here.

Actually, it was 44 years Bill spent at the **Faribault State School for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic**. Read more about the story behind the winning of the 1976 Handicapped Iowan of the Year Award here.

*Read the story how **Barry & Bev Morrow** met Bill in 1972.*

*Read how **Barry Morrow**‘s “hope to make a documentary film about Sackter’s life” turned into the hit made-of-TV-movie “Bill” in 1981.*

In Iowa City, Bill found a perfect home, boarding with **Mae Driscoll** – a 74-year-old widow who took in three disadvantaged souls – Kenneth (Kenny) R. Tillson, Angela B. Pirkl, and Bill Sackter. Read more here.

**Tom Walz** became one of Bill’s closest friends. As Director of the **University of Iowa School of Social Work**, Tom found a creative way for Bill to become a useful member of the community. Read more here.

*Read more about **Mae Driscoll**‘s story here.*

*Bill passed at age 70 in June 1983. He is buried at **Agudas Achim Cemetery** in Iowa City. Read more here.*

So, there you have it. In October 1978, the stories about Bill Sackter were just starting to circulate around the country. By December 22, 1981, when CBS debuted “Bill” – the made-for-TV movie featuring Mickey Rooney, Bill was becoming a national celebrity, being invited to speak (and play his harmonica) at events all around the U.S. and Canada. The Iowa City community loved Bill Sackter so much that when he died, the U.S. flag on Old Capitol flew at half-mast.