Marysville Chess Club
Moves That Make Sense!
Hello Everyone
My girlfriend, Erika Stevens and several club members insisted that I install this page on my website. Erika and others wrote nice tributes about me. I copied them below.
Thanks to everyone that contributed or will be contributing to this page! I am very touched by all the kind words and for the time spent to do this.
Thank you ALL!
My Story
From Erika Stevens and Club Members
From Erika
This is my attribute to Roy. I have added attributes from club members below. If you would like to join us by adding an attribute about Roy, please email it to me at erikastevens775@gmail.com and I will gladly post it to this page.
Hello all my Chess Friends. When I first saw the Bio page for the Chess Club, I was confused a little. Roy said “Well, when people die, someone writes up something nice to post for all to remember what they loved and appreciated about that person, I’d like to say good things about people while they’re still here!” So…. Please join me for a long overdue introduction….after all these years of him doing Bios for his well-loved club members, it is finally his turn! Our favorite guy and fearless leader, Mr. Roy Thomas Dotson. I do have to say this is definitely one of the more challenging things I’ve been given the pleasure to do, to give this man the validation and appreciation he deserves…I hope I am successful!
Roy has come a very long way to get where he is today. Growing up in a not-so-great part of Columbus, He learned at a young age how to watch out for himself. You could say he was on a life mission to make things “Gooder” Giggle Giggle!
Roy went to school every day soaking up all he could, like a sponge he loves to learn new things. After High School, He attended classes at several institutions, including Columbus State, Ohio University, and Ohio State University. When he wasn’t nose deep in a book, Roy enjoyed tearing apart engines, just to put them back together like a puzzle. He is very good at fixing and cleaning things, and he oddly enjoys it, like no one I know. He also enjoys running, walking, riding his bicycle, working out in his home gym, and taking walks with his best friend Howard Dixon. (I swear I could make a Grammy-worthy movie by recording their conversations, of course it would be a comedy, Haha!)
Roy first started actively playing Chess right around the time he began his employment with the City of Dublin, 20+ years ago. He became fascinated enough to start his own thing. With the help of his friend and fellow Chess fanatic Frank Phillips, The Marysville Chess Club was born.
Roy is obviously a natural. Like the gears in a clock, you can almost hear the ticking when watching him contemplating his next move. Those who know him well would say he is a force to be reckoned with. He has a genius mind when it comes to chess, which is why most are either terrified to play him, or they have a death wish and are out for a serious challenge. HA!
Roy has played in many tournaments all over Ohio including the Kings Island Open in 2013 where he took the title and was featured in “Chess Life” Magazine. At one point, he had to make a decision to choose his family over his love for the game and had to take some time away from competing. Which only goes to show how much of a loving and dedicated Father and Role model he was to his kids. Times were rough, but that never stopped him from still wanting to play.
Through all his life challenges, the Chess Club remained and continues to grow every day. Bringing him so much pride and joy with each new member. Roy has been a tournament director now for 3 years, his club is USCF affiliated, and hosts sanctioned tournaments locally, as well as teaching a free Chess class at his home every Tuesday. His favorite thing to hear is “I won that game because of what I learned in your class!” which obviously makes him a very proud teacher and says that’s what makes it all worth it! He does an annual Christmas Simul where proceeds go to a club member in need. This would include members of the Marysville and Delaware chess clubs (60 – 80). One of his favorite things is hosting his annual Chess Club cookout, where members and friends are welcome to lots of great food, a chance to meet National Master Chuck Diebert, lots of good camaraderie and chess playing of course, and Roy always gives gifts to each of his members on this day to show his appreciation for them.
Roy is the Greatest guy I’ve ever known, so I am very thankful to be able to say he is my partner in life! Every day with him is a new journey, and I wouldn’t want to spend it with anyone else. Thank you, Roy, for all you do for your club, your friends, and your lady!!! Happy Birthday (October 6) my love, we all hope this will be your best one yet!!!!!
Erika Stevens.
From Frank
Roy Dotson, and I started the Marysville Chess Club about 20 years ago. Roy has built a great club! Roy is a great teacher. Everyone has learned and benefited from his knowledge. It is a blessing to have Roy as a friend, he is always thoughtful, kind, and willing to help.
Frank Phillips
From Ginny
Thanks for everything you do for the Marysville club and for chess in central Ohio. I always enjoy the tournaments and special events you organize and going to club on Thursdays is a highlight of my week! I'm sure it's a lot of work, but I hope you can be proud to know that you have created something special. I certainly wouldn't drive all the way up to Marysville every week for just any old club! But the club is so friendly and fun and I'm sure everyone has a story of how you enthusiastically welcomed them to the club personally when they first visited. You don't find that everywhere, but it makes a difference. Thanks for all you do and I'm glad I can be a part of it!
Ginny
From Scott
In April of 2016 I went to check out the Marysville Chess club and met Roy Dotson. He gave me a friendly greeting and invited me to play chess with him and other club members. I thought I was a good player because I could usually beat my friends, but these guys were on another level! I got my ass handed to me by Roy and Garrett. Roy was happy to go over some of my games and help me learn to play better chess. He also gave me an armload of Marysville Chess Club “Swag”, as is his custom for new club members.
He also invited me to the upcoming MCC cookout, which is always an event not to be missed! It’s a great gathering of chess friends featuring great food, casual chess games, and a chess lecture from Chuck Deibert.
Roy is passionate about helping others to learn to play better chess. He invited me to join a small study group with a couple of other players. This ended up evolving into a Tuesday chess class that has met for the past several years from Spring until mid-Fall.
Roy’s friendly and generous nature has allowed him to build a thriving chess club. While other chess clubs have been struggling and some dying out, Marysville Chess Club continues to grow and thrive. This has been in part because Roy took the time and trouble to become an official Tournament Director and began hosting local tournaments.
Roy is always willing to help others. He has helped several club members when they needed help with home and/or car repairs or other needs repairing technical and mechanical skills that most of us chess players are lacking in.
It has been a great pleasure to get to know and work with Roy over the past several years.
Scott Swisher
From Rosie
Maya Angelou said, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Roy Dotson leaves people feeling accepted, worthy, and loved.
I can’t say I’ve “entered” the chess scene, but I’ve touched the board. I’m a newbie, making innumerable blunders, with a USCF rating I hope no one looks up. Yet, Roy welcomed me with open arms to the Marysville Chess Club.
The day I received a welcome package, I was shocked and did a happy dance. I live in Cincinnati but still… he sent a package of chess goodies!
He was willing to play a few non-rated chess.com games with me. This grew into lessons on his cherished Sundays: Selfless and statue-worthy.
Each time I sent in a registration for a Marysville tournament, I expected a gentle turndown. Nope, Roy accepted me and gave a great smile as I entered.
Then the time came that he joined the chess tournament at Belmont Correctional. Roy was busy, as usual. New job responsibilities. He still came and played hard. For incarcerated men to play outsiders, especially of his skill level, that likens the Olympics for them.
Aspirations like that can help a man crawl out of the cycle of recidivism.
He understands love is a verb and he lives it—growing a club of not just skill, but of deep camaraderie.
I will forever be in deep gratitude for his kindness.
Rosie Merkt
From Trevor
I first met Roy when I started going to the Delaware chess club. I had heard he was a strong player, and I wasn't disappointed, he played a mean game of chess, all with high spirits and a quip or two, of course. Can't let your guard down when you play Roy! Be it timed or not!
It's not all fun and games though, sometimes it's fun and car troubles. My car has a tendency to have parts fall off, and multiple times Roy has either has some wire or copper snips (whatever those are) that patched my car up enough to get home.
Roy's done well with building a motley club. But who wouldn't return after seeing how nice the pens are?
Trevor Van Fossen
From Howard
I walked into Starbucks, which was, at the time, hosting the Marysville Chess Club. I had been itching to play chess for days before finally Googling to see if anyone had started a new club in Marysville. A friend and I had established one at the local high school back in 1998 or so, but it never really took off. I was introduced, shook a few hands, and jumped into a game. Bruce Lindman was there, and he recognized me, though I had been away from Ohio for some time.
Later, when I was about to leave, Roy stopped me at the door and said, "Hey, it was great to have you. Please come back!" We shook hands, and later, as I drove home, I couldn't help but smile. Roy’s kindness was unusual, especially for chess clubs. It’s the reason I came back and probably why my life has taken the course it has today.
I learned much later that Roy’s life had also been changed by a single moment. He had noticed a few coworkers playing chess on computers during lunch, which sparked his curiosity. He quickly fell in love with the game, so much that his wife bought him a handheld chess device. Not long after, around 2005, Roy and his friend and coworker, Frank Philips, started a chess club at the Marysville library.
Eventually, Bruce Lindman and Richard Vail discovered the club. They had been part of the Delaware Chess Club for years and invited Roy and his posse to visit. Roy fondly recalls how he thought they would go down there and “mow them over.” Nothing could have been further from the truth. “I never won a game,” he’d say with a grin, reflecting on how naive he was. Despite the poor performance, his spirit remained unbroken. “I figured it would be good to actually learn how to play chess if I was going to run a club,” he would say with a laugh. Chuck Diebert, a titled player, was recommended to Roy as a teacher. They met at Chuck’s apartment for lessons, and over time, Chuck taught Roy the fundamentals, how to move the pieces, how to notate games, and the two became great friends.
In 2006, Roy hosted his first annual chess cookout, even buying gifts for club members! Around 20 people attended that first gathering, and it has since become one of the highlights of the Marysville Chess Club. At some point, chess fully consumed Roy’s attention, leading him to give up his other hobbies, such as quad running, camping, and Lego building.
Roy’s love for the game only grew, as did his skill. In November 2013, he tied for first place in the U1700 section with a score of 4½ out of 5. One of his students, Khan Lee, a Vietnamese exchange student, won the U1500 at the same tournament. Subsequently Roy was interviewed by Al from the USCF and Evan Sheldon from the Ohio Chess Association, and one of his interviews appeared in the January 2014 issue of Chess Life. He no longer gives autographs.
Some of my fondest memories are of Roy, Mike Thomas, and me, playing blitz at two in the morning outside a closed Starbucks—laughing, crying, and hurling pieces across the board, playing until we could no longer think straight. I am glad our paths crossed. Thanks Roy and Happy October 6th birthday!
Howard Dixon
From Dave
A Tribute to Roy Dotson
It is a wonderful thing when passion meets calling. I wonder, if when Roy Dotson first sat at a chess board and moved that first pawn, did he imagine the impact he would have on chess, his community, and hundreds of people? Did he foresee the community that would gather around his chess board? Could he envision the family he would create around those sixty-four squares? I met Roy Dotson five years ago when he invited me to Marysville to compete in an invitational chess tournament. On my first visit, I knew Roy and his friends had created something very special in Marysville; a chess club with a friendly family vibe. Roy welcomed me in with his enthusiastic smile, his contagious optimism, his eternal enthusiasm for the game, and his love and respect for those that united under the banner of the Marysville Chess Club. My passions became his passions. Roy was an avid supporter and strong ally of my efforts to bring chess into the prisons. He supported us directly by attending our events and promoting our work in his own club. He supported us indirectly by helping from behind the scenes to navigate hurdles with the USCF. When it came time to step up to the board, he and the Marysville Chess Club, welcomed with open arms those chess players who had been incarcerated. It is no small endeavor to manage a chess club. Balancing the needs and wants of the individual members with the goals of the club can be challenging. Many clubs fold for lack of good leadership and the politics of leadership can make anyone throw up their hands and walk away. The greatest tribute and indicator of Roy’s success with the Marysville Chess Club is that every time I return, the club has grown but kept its small club intimacy. The diversity of the people within the club has expanded and all set at the boards as equals. No matter how long I am away from the Marysville Chess Club, I am always treated as a family member who has been too long away. I have never walked away from a Marysville Chess Club event without having made a new friend. Congratulations, Roy, on your successes with the Marysville Chess Club. I am proud to be a member of your chess club family. I am honored to be your friend. Keep doing good things, my friend.
David Cannon
From Jo
I first met Roy when John asked me to accompany him to Chess Club. He was a new member himself and really impressed with Roy! I had never played chess before, barely knew the pieces, and it wasn’t even a consideration on my bucket list, but John was so passionate about Chess and as I said really impressed with Roy, so I decided I would go to chess club. Roy made me feel very welcome. It’s his kindness, patience, generous welcoming spirit, and good heart that made me want to come back and learn this game. And hey who can say they played Chess with the man who graced the same page in Chess Life as Bobby Fischer! I am blessed to have met Roy.
Thank you Erika for doing this so Roy can know how very important he is and what a great contribution he has made to the chess community and much he is appreciated and loved by everyone.
I’m so very glad to know you both.
Jo Schwarz
