Asbridge, William Leonard

Deafened at age 7 by meningitis; educated at the Tennessee School for the Deaf, then became a licensed (not ordained) itinerant Baptist minister to the deaf for many years. He traveled extensively throughout Mississippi and Arkansas, founding several churches for the deaf in those states. For a living, he also worked the night shift in the composing room of a Memphis newspaper until retiring from both jobs in 1973. Instrumental in the founding of the South Wide Baptist Converence of the Deaf and the Tennessee Baptist Conference of the Deaf. Played "Silent Santa Claus" to deaf children for 17 years until a broken hip ended that in 1990.