THE CALIFORNIA CHESS REPORTER
(Vol. XXV No. 2) September-October 1975

CHARLES L. BAGBY (obituary)

   Charles L. Bagby, a member of the Institute since 1938 and a Trustee, died in San Francisco on September 30, 1975, survived by his widow June Phelps Bagby. Mr. Bagby was a native of Charleston, South Carolina, a graduate of the University of Washington, and practiced law in San Francisco for nearly 40 years. He was elected to the Board of Trustees of Mechanics' Institute in 1940 and served continuously until his death, longer than any Trustee in the history of the Institute. The Board adopted this resolution in his memory at a meeting on October 14, 1975:

   "WHEREAS, The Trustees of the Mechanics' Institute regret exceedingly the passing on September 30, 1975, of Charles L. Bagby, who served with distinction as a Trustee for the extraordinary term of 35 years.
   Charles, a successful and resourceful attorney, had wide-ranging interests in such diverse fields as mathematics, classical languages, and the American Civil War. He was a strong chess player, winning the championship of California in 1958. He presided over the Chess Room for many years as Chairman of the Trustees' Chess Room Committee.
   A man of ardent convictions and gifted with eloquence, he frequently brought novel, pertinent and interesting ideas to the deliberations of the Board. Through all his years of service, his total devotion to the welfare of the Institute was clear to everyone. The Board of Trustees will not be the same again.
   NOW THEREFORE, be it Resolved that the Trustees of Mechanics' Institute hereby express their sense of deep sorrow in the loss of Charles L. Bagby and their condolence and sympathy to Mrs. Bagby."

"Dear Jude:
   Thank you for your card notifying us of the sad passing of Charles Bagby. I never met him personally, but I know that he was one of the moving forces behind the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club. We are sorry to learn of his passing. It is regretful that we never received a written application with documentation to award Mr. Bagby the title of USCF Master Emeritus. Certainly, if we received this material, it would have been considered by our Policy Board.
Cordially, Martin Morrison"

(Everybody seems to have thought at one time or another "let's honor So-and-So with a title while he's still alive, so he will enjoy it." In Mr. Bagby's case, the thought occurred to Jude Acers, who asked this writer to use his "influence" with the USCF. So I asked Ed Edmonson of the U.S. Open in 1971, "We want Master Emeritus for Bagby. What about it?" Ed replied, "Not a chance! Don't waste your time applying for it." - Ed)