December 22, 2006

In Memory of Elbert Lowder - Richard L. Fortman

""Hello Howard" I have lost a good friend, along with the rest of the world of checkers, in the passing of Elbert Lowder who died Thursday Dec. 14th, at the age of 74. Elbert commenced playing while still in high school, and at the age of 17 entered his first major ty; the Southern States at Spartanburg, SC, placing in 5th pace, and losing only to the ty winner Sam Hallman. He entered his first National Ty. at Galveston, finishing in a tie for 6th place, losing only to the ty winner Marion Tinsley (the first of their many later encounters) and JR Lanier. From that date, he competed in all of the later National Tys. up to 2004, a record no one can ever duplicate, this along with many North Carolina titles, Southern States, Fla Opens and Lakeside. At various times he held the GAYP title along with the 11-man ballot title. He was never able to win a National Ty, although several 2nd place finishes. In 1992 at Hot Springs he had the championship in his grasp needing only a draw with Ron King in the final round. Lowder offered a draw 3 times, with King rejecting. I was the referee and standing by. All he had to do was appeal to me after which I would have declared the position a draw. But Elbert was stubborn and also mad, commencing to move rapidly (which King wanted) only to fall into a "cheapo" trap that lost, after which he swept the pieces off the board in despair and disgust. That was his finest hour and never repeated. He was seriously injured in an auto accident several years ago, but survived to play again, but the spark was gone. He suffered a severe heart attack in November, which resulted in his death. Although he was the manager of a music store in Sanford NC along with his partner Tim Laverty, which produced his living, his heart was in the game of checkers for the past 55 years. I had met and played him in several Tys; Fla Opens but he proved to be better.

Richard L Fortman

with best regards,
Richard Fortman"

Elbert Lowder will be remembered as a great checker player -

Howard R. Gain