HALL OF CHAMPIONS

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Dr. William Hickman Morton became the first South Carolina Chess Champion, winning the inaugural championship on July 26, 1926, held at the Y.M.C.A. in Columbia, SC, where he was also elected the first president of the newly founded South Carolina Chess Association (SCCA). A Spartanburg resident and academic, Morton served as a professor of physics and astronomy at Converse College for 35 years, having studied at Central University in Kentucky, the University of Chicago, and Columbia University. He received an honorary doctorate from Presbyterian College in 1920 and was a respected elder in Spartanburg’s First Presbyterian Church. Morton’s 1926 victory and leadership role established him as a foundational figure in South Carolina chess history. He passed away on February 18, 1950, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Col. Oliver James Bond won the South Carolina Chess Championship in 1928, the third annual event, held in Sumter, South Carolina, on July 2-5, 1928 at the Masonic Hall. Representing Charleston, Bond defeated E.B. Hallman of Spartanburg in the final, earning the silver trophy cup presented by the Sumter Chess Club. During the SCCA’s annual meeting on July 6, 1928 Bond was also named President. Born on May 11, 1865, in Marion, South Carolina, Bond graduated from The Citadel in 1886, where he later served as a professor of mathematics, mechanical drawing, and astronomy. He was appointed Superintendent of The Citadel in 1908, a role that transitioned to President in 1921, and led the institution until 1931, earning the distinction of being its last Superintendent and first President. A colonel in the South Carolina Militia, he returned to teaching mathematics at The Citadel for the last two years of his life. Bond passed away on October 1, 1933, in Charleston, South Carolina. Bond Hall, the administration building on The Citadel campus, is named in his honor, and junior cadets trying out for the elite Summerall Guards drill platoon are known as "Bond Volunteers." A collection of his papers is archived at The Citadel Archives & Museum, Charleston.

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.

Paul Lothian Cromelin, born on January 29, 1905, in Berlin, Germany, to an American father, was a U.S. citizen by parentage. He moved to England before returning to the United States in 1914 aboard the RMS Mauretania. Raised in New York, he served in the New York National Guard from 1921 to 1926 and worked as a salesman for Sears Roebuck around 1929. In 1932, Cromelin wrote a chess column for the Mount Vernon Argus in White Plains, NY, where he covered local chess events, analyzed games, and engaged readers with chess problems. His profession in sales eventually brought him to Columbia, South Carolina, in 1948 via Georgia, where he worked as an oil distributor. That year, he collaborated with Robert Brand of the Citadel to re-establish the South Carolina Chess Association, later serving as its president. Cromelin won the South Carolina State Chess Championship in 1949, held on June 18-19 at the Hotel Cleveland in Spartanburg, scoring 4½–½ in a five-round Swiss-style tournament, the largest ever held by the association with about 30 players. He regained his title in with 1951 championship tournament, held on June 16-17 at the Hotel Wade Hampton in Columbia, winning a close two-day tournament against strong contenders like Ben Ruddich and George Iwankiw. In the 1950s, Cromelin served as president of the Charlotte Optimists Club and worked as a sales manager for Caro Metal Products in Charlotte in 1953, and later for Dentaplane Corp in 1960. An avid bridge player, he authored "Bridge is Beautiful" and served as bridge editor for the Savannah News Press for 12 years during the 1970s and 1980s. Cromelin also enjoyed acting, notably playing Commander Jellico, USN, in a 1952 production of "Two Blind Mice" at Columbia’s Town Theatre, having previously performed with the Augusta Players. He passed away on March 13, 1982, at age 77, and was buried in Hillcrest Abbey East Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia.

Rea Bruce Hayes, born on October 31, 1915, in Weston, Ontario, Canada, was a distinguished chess player and organizer who left a lasting legacy in the chess world. He first learned chess at age 11, quickly mastering the game by studying an encyclopedia, and went on to become a prominent figure in Canadian chess. At the University of Toronto, Hayes served as president of the Hart House Chess Club from 1935 to 1937, revitalizing the club with new activities. He competed in the Canadian Championships, achieving a notable third-place finish in 1947 with a score of 10.5/13, and famously defeated Canada’s first grandmaster, Abe Yanofsky, in 1951.

Hayes moved frequently due to his career as an actuary, including a brief stint in Los Angeles in 1945, before settling in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1953. There, Hayes won the South Carolina State Chess Championship in 1953, earning two trophies—one as the Open Champion and another as the highest-scoring resident—and successfully defended his title in 1954. He also tied for third in the 1953 Southern Open and placed fourth in the 1954 Southern Open.

After two years in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he won the 1955 Southern Chess Association Championship with a 6-1 score, Hayes moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1956, where he lived for 30 years. In Cincinnati, he worked as an actuary for Union Central Life, organized the Parkway Chess Club and City League, revived the city championship, and won the Ohio State Championship in 1963. He was honored as Chessman of the Decade (1958–1968) by his club. Hayes also won the first U.S. Senior Open in 1981 in Sun City West, Arizona, earning a wristwatch for upsetting the favorite, Eric Marchand.

In 1990, Hayes returned to Chattanooga, where he won the Tennessee State Championship in 1992 at age 76, scoring 4.5/6. A dedicated chess enthusiast, he served in various roles at the Chattanooga Chess Club, which named him a Life Member and established the annual Rea Hayes Open in his honor that is still played annually to this day. Hayes was also a passionate collector, amassing a vast chess library that he donated to US Chess, earning the Koltanowski Award in 1982. Additionally, he and his wife Kay shared a love for folk and square dancing, hosting dance events in Greenville. Hayes passed away on February 15, 2001, leaving behind a legacy in chess and community engagement.