I happen to notice a copy of TIME magazine’s issue with the 100 most influential people in the world. There is one USCF member on the list. That is George R. R. Martin. He was a Class A player in college, and a CCA TD for midwest events many years ago.
All the best, Joe
Note–Edited to correct George’s USCF membership status. (He is a life member.)
WOW!!
I had no idea TIME had honored George in this way (nor do I know whether he even appreciates this honor). This is one of those "I knew this guy way back when … " things.
I first met George after I saw a tiny ad for the chess club in the Northwestern University school newspaper. When I checked out the meeting, George was one of only three people at the club that night. All three were moping, chins in hands, wondering why they couldn’t get anybody to come to their club. When I walked in, George perked up a bit and said, “Uh, I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.” As the moping continued, one of the other three made various suggestions like “We need TROPHIES! We need LADDERS! We need CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS!” I responded that we needed people to know about us. The next day, I ran off 100 signs on the math department ditto machine (one of those oldies that produced purple copies) and posted them around campus. The next week 15 people showed up.
A couple years later, George decided he needed to lose some weight. He went on a diet consisting of one meal per week – a giant, greasy cheeseburger, fries, and two steins of beer at a local saloon where several of us gathered after each Monday night chess club meeting. Somehow, the diet worked. Later, he began eating more sensibly, but more often per week, and kept the weight off.
After another year, George was in a blue funk because, after many tries, he had still not managed to get any of his fledgling sci-fi stories published. When he finally did, of course it was instant Cloud Nine. A few years later, he won his first Hugo (sci-fi award). Today, he is a highly successful writer, with thousands of reviews (mostly 4 and 5 stars) on Amazon. And I knew him when …
Yes!!
Bill Smythe
Great story, Bill. To be precise, it looks like Mr. Martin is a current member (Life member) of USCF: uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlMain.php?10349991
Anyone remember Michael Flatley from his days playing chess before he became Lord of the Dance?