ELMER BERLEY HALLMAN (1885–1975)

---

Elmer Berley Hallman of Spartanburg won the South Carolina Chess Championship in 1930, held at the Fort Sumter Hotel (now the Fort Sumter House) in Charleston from July 21-24, 1930. Hallman's early interest in chess developed at age 17 in 1902, sparked by a chess column in the Charleston News and Courier edited by Dr. Henry Plenge. With limited access to chess literature at the time, Hallman taught himself the game by studying the column, which featured prominent Charleston players like Oliver J. Bond and Henry Plenge, as well as games by world champions like Emanuel Lasker and Wilhelm Steinitz. Hallman went on to compete in South Carolina Chess Tournaments between 1926 and 1933, and during this period, he also ran a chess column in the Spartanburg Herald for 18 months. Born on August 10, 1885, in Newberry, South Carolina, Hallman graduated from Newberry College in 1904 and later earned an honorary doctorate from Newberry College, as well as a master’s degree from Columbia University and Wofford College. Hallman began a career in education shortly after his graduation, when he was elected to teach English and Latin at Kingstree Graded School in 1904. Hallman eventually rose to the position of superintendent of Spartanburg City Schools, a role he held until his retirement. He passed away on December 3, 1975, at the age of 90 in Columbia, South Carolina, and was buried in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.

Peter James Walker won the South Carolina State Chess Championship held on July 18-21, 1932, at the annual tournament held in Charleston. Eight competitors participated in a single-round format, with each player facing seven others, and Walker emerged victorious by winning all seven of his games, securing the title with a perfect score. This victory followed his earlier success in winning the championship of the Southeastern Chess Association three times (including in 1923 at the second annual tournament of the Georgia-Florida Chess Association which later became the Southeastern Chess Association). Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Walker later settled in Varnville, South Carolina, where he worked as a hardware salesman in Beaufort for many years. He was a veteran of World War I, having served in the served in the Field Artillery unit of the 29th Division during World War I. He was actively involved in community efforts, serving as a member of the American Legion and state USO committee, and contributing to Varnville’s successful USO fund drive in Hampton County. Walker married Virginia Miller in 1930, and the couple was noted for their participation in chess circles, with Virginia accompanying him during tournaments. Peter James Walker passed away on September 27, 1951, at the age of 65, at the Beaufort Naval Hospital after a brief illness. He is buried at Varnville Cemetery, in Varnville, SC.