Curtis Wilson (1903-1996)

(Earnest Gilman Wilson, his son, sent this info in a series of emails.) Curtis, born in Sacramento in April of 1903, moved to Oakland in time to feel the 1906 earthquake.

Curtis Wilson

Curtis Wilson & parents (Lake Merritt, Oakland in 1908)

He was one of the founding members of the Castle Chess Club in October 1929 and was also a longtime member of both the Oakland Chess Club (2nd floor of the Thayer Building) and the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club.

Curtis Wilson

Curtis Wilson

Ernie Wilson (left) - Curtis Wilson (right)

Thayer Building, 577 14th Street, Oakland (circa 1930)

He was one of the founding members of the Castle Chess Club in October 1929 and was also a longtime member of both the Oakland Chess Club (2nd floor of the Thayer Building) and the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club. In 1933-34 he assembled the first really modern chess clock, in Oakland. It used only one clock movement. Around 1940, he took his young son, Ernie, to visit the Oakland Chess Club to meet Sam Bean, the blind and deaf chess expert. Ernie played his moves against Mr. Bean by "writing" them onto Sam's hand; Sam won the game.

Castle Chess Club - Curtis Wilson with his hand on Fred Nils Christiansen's shoulder (bottom middle)

Castle Chess Club, Curtis Wilson (seated left)

Sam Bean with cane at Oakland Chess Club (Curtis Wilson on right)

Sam Bean with cane

During World War II he played a number of postal games with servicemen; using the old style rubber chess stamps (12 separate stamps - 6 for each color) and inkpad. He kept a record of each serviceman's name and rank. The United States Chess Federation didn't start having ratings until 1950. So, even though Curtis had been playing chess in the Bay Area for decades, it's no surprise that he got his first rating, 1900*, in May 1955. It wasn't until December of 1962 that he received his expert rating of 2033. Curtis played well into the 1970's with an 'A' rating.