Celebration planned to remember Iowa City's Bill Sackter

IOWA CITY – A week-long celebration is planned to recognize the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bill Sackter.

Sackter was a mentally challenged man who ran Wild Bill's Coffeeshop on the University of Iowa campus from 1975 until his death in 1983. Before coming to Iowa City, he spent half a century institutionalized in Minnesota. He was the subject of two movies and a documentary.

The coffee shop is still in the UI's North Hall, staffed by people will disabilities. In 2001, the spinoff venture Uptown Bill's opened. It offers not only coffee but also serves as a music venue, bookstore and other enterprises at 730 S. Dubuque St.

Music, films, an art show and more are scheduled during the week of April 8-13, according to a news release. For more information, go to

www.uptownbills.org.