We lost former TCA Vice-President, chess expert, US Chess Meritorious Service Award Winner, and renowned chess tournament organizer Jim Hollingsworth on September 19, 2024.
James Mason Hollingsworth, Major, U.S. Army (retired), Master of Health Administration, and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic and Web Design, passed away unexpectedly at his home in North Richland Hills, Texas, on September 19, 2024. Born on June 12, 1955, in Dayton, Ohio, he lived a life marked by service, creativity, and love.
Jim leaves behind a profound impact on the chess community. A passionate chess player, Jim achieved Chess Expert status in 1988 while serving in Korea. Jim was selected for the All-Army Chess Championship seven times; mission requirements kept him out of two. He earned a place on the Army Chess Team in 1989. He co-founded the RRSO, an annual team match between Oklahoma and Texas chess enthusiasts, and was Chief Organizer of the Texas Armed Forces Open Chess Championships in 2017 and 2018, as well as the Texas Women’s Chess Championships in 2018 and 2019. Jim was instrumental in the success of the 62nd US Armed Forces Open Chess Championship in 2021, which became the third largest in history. In 2024, a month before his passing, he was honored with the Meritorious Service Award by the US Chess Open for his 45 years of dedicated service to Chess. He was a life member of both US Chess and TCA.
