Sober 40 years

Waseca Mayor Roy Srp was a guest speaker in an NRHEG high school class which was covering the topic of addiction. Srp is an alcoholic who has been sober for 40 years and 1 month. He shared a powerful story. 

Srp said his story began as an infant when his dad would soak cotton balls with whiskey to remedy his aching teeth. Well, according to Srp, he started to have a lot of toothaches. When he was 10, his family shared wine at Christmas. They felt it was fine for the kids to “just have a little.” That’s how it started for Srp: Just a little. 

When he was 12 at an uncle's birthday party he enjoyed a Hamm's Beer. A family member snapped a photo which gave everyone a good laugh. At 14 he started sneaking beers home from family events and stashing them in the garage. Warm or cold, it didn’t matter to Srp, he just enjoyed “a little.” 

Though he was introduced to the concept of “alcoholism” in his early teens, Srp said he spent a lot of time convincing himself he couldn’t be an alcoholic, even though he could not deny he spent a lot of time drinking.

Though his then-self was sure he was fine–after all, he wasn’t drinking any more than the people around him–Srp of today acknowledges he was spending much too much of his life under the influence. He said his addiction cost him tens–if not hundreds–of thousands of dollars. He was in half a dozen drunken car accidents, and nearly died on several occasions because of his drinking, including two suicide attempts. 

“When I drank, I felt like I was 9 feet tall and bulletproof,” Srp said.  

As he got older, his relationship with alcohol intensified. Srp spoke of working for the railroad, which he did for 42 years, and believing “I worked better when I was drunk.” 

He shared a story of an Iowa state trooper who found him walking down the interstate, alone, at night. 

In another incident Srp was pulled over and arrested after driving the wrong way on a one-way road in Iowa. This ultimately led to Srp getting sober. After watching a video of the arrest, provided to him after the fact, Srp couldn’t believe the person he was watching. “It was pathetic and disgusting,” he remembers. “I looked at that, and I could no longer deny that I had become an alcoholic.”

A result of his DWI charge was attending “driver’s school” again. During one session, a fellow named Cecil Botz, a recovering alcoholic, spoke on the topic. Thanks to Botz’ influence, Srp started attending Alcoholics Anonymous. He still attends 40 years later. 

“Some of my friends found other ways to quit drinking,” Srp shared. 

Srp said he tried to end his life twice as a result of his battle with alcohol. “I would drive into the garage, shut the door and leave the car running.” 

Srp said he’s lost more than one friend who couldn’t take their battle with alcoholism anymore and ended their lives as a result. “They quit drinking, but at what cost?” 

Addiction, alcoholism, is a matter of life and death. Srp said if he can help just one person choose not to go down the path he did, it makes his efforts as a speaker and AA member worthwhile. 

“Standing in front of you here today, I feel like I’m 9 feet tall and bulletproof,” Srp beamed. “I now know that nothing can hurt me except for drugs and alcohol.” 

A student asked Srp if he still feels the urge to drink.

“I’ve been sober 40 years, and 1 week,” Srp answered. “I’ve felt the urge to drink every day.

“If you’d asked my friends 40 years ago if they ever thought I would quit drinking, they would have laughed at you. Sometimes it takes sheer willpower to not have a drink. Through the grace of God, lots of prayers, and an incredible support system, I’ve remained sober.”