FOREST, Miss. (AP) — The first person ever diagnosed with autism, a Mississippi man widely known as “Case 1,” has passed away.
Donald G. Triplett, who gained recognition through various mediums like the book “In a Different Key,” a PBS documentary, a BBC news magazine segment, and numerous medical journal articles, peacefully left us.
To the Bank of Forest staff in a small city located approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Jackson, he was simply known as “Don,” according to WLBT-TV.
Lesa Davis, the senior vice president of the bank, confirmed Triplett’s passing on Thursday. He was 89 years old.
Triplett spent an impressive 65 years working at the bank, where his father, Beamon Triplett, held a prominent position as a primary shareholder.
“Don was an extraordinary individual,” stated CEO Allen Breland, acknowledging Triplett’s fiercely independent nature and savant abilities. “He always brought something unique to the table and kept things intriguing.”
Graduating from Millsaps College in 1958, Triplett had a passion for golf and travel. He frequently embarked on adventures to exotic destinations, adding excitement to his life, as Breland described.
“He existed in his own realm, but when presented with two three-digit numbers, he could multiply them faster than a calculator could provide the answer,” shared the CEO in an interview with the television station.
Triplett’s autism diagnosis stemmed from a comprehensive 22-page letter penned by his parents, containing detailed observations about his abilities and behaviors, which they sent to a researcher at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. This letter continues to serve as a crucial reference for those studying the disorder.
Oliver Triplett, the nephew of Donald Triplett, expressed how his uncle’s story instills hope in parents of children who are unique in their own ways.
“They can witness Don’s journey and the community that embraced him,” he expressed. “The people of Forest as a whole supported and accepted him. This offers optimism to parents whose children fall on different points of the autism spectrum, showing them that their children can lead happy and fulfilling lives.”
The funeral service honoring Triplett’s life will take place on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Forest Presbyterian Church.
