Joseph E. Callaway was born in 1926 in a small town in Arkansas. He served in the Army in World War II and graduated from George Washington University in 1950. Joseph began playing correspondence chess in 1970 in the Golden Knights Championship. Joe was a finalist in nine of those Golden Knights. He finished ninth in the first USCF. He has played in the second, third, and fifth Correspondence Chess League of America (CCLA) Championships, improving each time, with fourth, second, and first place finishes.

Joe also won a Master section the APTB. Callaway modestly notes that what success he has had in correspondence chess is in no way due to talent, but to the simple fact that he works his tail off at it. He may spend hours on a single move and then sleep on it before deciding! Good thing Joe plays correspondence chess and not over-the-board!