One of Mississippi's most active tournament organizers and players, Gordon Scott, is no longer with us. Gordon passed away at home on January 11, 2004. I first met Gordon when I was a scholastic player in the early 1990's. He was constantly directing tournaments at the Jackson Chess Club and the Ridgeland Library and gave me the opportunity to join the world of adult chess on practically a bi-weekly basis. I had the pleasure of attending several out of town tournaments with Gordon over the course of the last year and spending some time with him.

His interest in chess had not diminished. In 2003 he played in tournaments in: Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Illinois, and Nevada. He had been planning on attending the US Open in Ft Lauderdale, Florida in 2004 as an alternate delegate for the MCA. I hope to collect more information about Gordon's involvement with Mississippi chess to post it on this web site. I know he has been an officer of the MCA and the Jackson Chess Club over the years. I also know we will all miss his constant presence at Mississippi chess events. Gordon has lots of wins and draws against me and always seemed to save some of his best chess for me. One of them below. Douglas Stewart, President, Mississippi Chess Assocation:

White: Stewart, Douglas
Black: Scott, Gordon
Tournament: Mississippi Winter Classic
Location: Ridgeland, MS
Date: January 18, 1992

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 d6 7.Be2 Qb6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Qd3 Bb7 10.Rb1 Nd7 11.Be3 Qa5 12.b4 Qd8 13.0-0 e6 14.Bd4 Rc8 15.Qg3 Rg8 16.Qh3 h6 17.Bh5 Qe7 18.Bf2 g6 19.Bh4 f6 20.Bg4 Kf7 21.e5 d5 22.exf6 Nxf6 23.Bxf6 Qxf6 24.Rfe1 Re8 25.Re2 Bc8 26.Rbe1 Bxb4 27.Re3 Bxc3 28.Rxc3 Bd7 29.Rce3 Re7 30.Kf2 Rh8 31.Kg1 h5 32.Bd1 c5 33.Re5 c4 34.Bf3 Bc6 35.R1e2 a5 36.Rf2 Kg7 37.Rfe2 Rhe8 38.Qg3 Kh6 39.Rg5 Rg8 40.Ree5 Be8 41.Bxh5 Rh7 42.Bf3 Bf7 43.Qg4 Kg7 44.Qg3 Rb8 45.Bh5 Rh6 46.f5 Rb1+ 47.Kf2 Rb2 48.Ke1 Rxc2 49.fxg6 Bg8 50.Bf3 Rxa2 51.Rh5 Rxh5 52.Rxh5 Qc3+ 53.Kf1 Ra1+ 54.Ke2 Qd3+ [ After 55.Kf2 would follow .. Rf1 mate ] 0-1

Gordon Scott's Obituary from the Clarion Ledger:
Mr. Gordon E. Scott, 76, died Sunday, January 11, 2004 at home. Visitation is 2-3 p.m. today at Natchez Trace Funeral Home. Graveside services are 3 p.m. today at Natchez Trace Memorial Park in Madison.

Mr. Scott was born February 13, 1927 and was a native of Westfield, New Jersey. He was a U.S. Army veteran and served in Japan during WWII. He was an active member of the Jackson Chess Club and with the Senior Olympics. He retired from Challenger after many years as an inventory control manager. Mr. Scott is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Billie Iris Scott.

Mr. Scott is survived by daughters, Dene' Lynn Scott of Jacksonville, IL., Gail A. Scott of Tacoma, WA., and Tricia Halle, who was cherished as a daughter, of Jackson; grandchildren, Tiffani Steffy, Joshua Edward Butterfield, Rebecca Leigh Otutoa; and great-grandchildren, Hepi Sepi Adrienna and Sione Joshua Otutoa.

These obituaries and photo can be found on Mississippi Chess Association website: http://www.mcachess.org/history/gordon_scott.html.