Dr. M. Lee Hyder, winner of the 2003 Distinguished Service Award from USCF, died on November 3 after a long illness. Dr. Hyder served as USCF secretary from 1975-78, and then served for more than a decade as a Trustee of the US Chess Trust. Lee was one of the co-organizers of the Quarter-final Match for the World Championship in 1974, which was won by Victor Korchnoi over Henrique Mecking.

A strong player, he was a South Carolina State Champion. He also served as South Carolina State President, Vice President, and magazine editor. He was a scientist who contributed much to the safety of nuclear facilities around the US and the world. Lee was always regarded as a great gentleman who was uniformly respected. He lived much of his life in Aiken, South Carolina.