A Priest Who Couldn't Stop Drinking: AA Speaker - Hollis D. - Eugene, OR - 1999

Hollis D. from Staunton, VA speaking at The Summerfest 1999 in Eugene, OR - July 7th-10th 1999 Check out our new sober/AA inspired merch & support the channel 🧡 Sober Sunrise Merch Visit our website - Sober-Sunrise.com Hollis shares a powerful and often humorous account of his life in alcoholism and recovery, describing how drinking unraveled his priesthood, morals, health, and sense of self until he finally surrendered in November of 1977, and entered AA completely defeated. He highlights the life-saving impact of sponsorship, the Big Book, working all twelve steps—not just the first half of them—and giving the program away through service, from helping drunk priests get sober to building AA groups and studying its history. Hollis’s story shows how recovery rebuilt every part of his life, gifting him a loving marriage, a daughter he never expected to have, deep spiritual renewal, and a joyful commitment to carrying the message. His journey underlines the life-changing truth that AA isn’t just about not drinking—it’s a way of life that restores purpose, connection, and hope one day at a time. Music: Deep by KaizanBlu