Famous Chess Players I have met
- William Scott III was one
of the best chess players in the state in the sixties. There is an exhibit about this Atlanta black chess player, whom among other
things was an editor of the Atlanta Daily World, and one of the early liberators at Buchenwald. In the sixties, John Austin, who is a Kidchess coach successfully led a movement to let William Scott play in the same room as the other players.
- Norman Whitaker was an American International
Master of chess, a lawyer, and a chess author. He was convicted of several serious crimes, was disbarred from the
practice of law and chess for many years. He served several terms in prison including Alcatraz, where he befriended Al Capone. When I played him he was over 80.
- Harold Winston In 1973-1974 Harold Winston and I were in
frequent contact regarding hosting the 1973 Pan-American Intercollegiate Tournament in Atlanta I was organizing. He later became President of the US
Chess Federation and then chairman of the U.S. Chess Trust.
- George R.R. Martin I met him only a few times while he was directing chess tournaments in Atlanta.
He later became an extremely well-known author.
- Jude Acers I met him several times. In the seventies he toured the country giving simultaneous chess exhibitions. He claimed he was one of the best players in the country, even though he did play in tournaments. Acers now plays against all comers in a New Orleans downtown gazebo while wearing a red beret.
- Robert Fischer I worked in New York in the summer of 1972. I and saw him several times at the Manhatten Chess Club.
I won a copy of his book "My 60 Memorable Games" and he signed it.
Chess Friends
- Christopher Abel
I was one of his kidchess coaches when he was taking chess at Chalker school. He was totaly blind and played on a peg set. He won the school chess champion trophy.
I hope evantually he will play more chess, but he has many interests that keep him busy.
- Justin and Earle Morrison I met Justin and his father Earle in the 70's.
Earle was a very good player, and was president of the Georgia Chess Asociation for several years.
He also edited the states chess newsletter for several years. In 1999 Justin started kidchess, which now teaches in over 50 schools, and has nearly 100 employees.
I have played many games against both Justin and Earle/
