USCF has announced that John Hillery has died: http://main.uschess.org/content/view/10685/601
John was a frequent contributor at the USCF forums, and the editor of the Chess Journalists of America’s publication The Chess Journalist. His blog, Western Chess, is in my blogroll at the right.
I knew him primarily from the forums, where he was a very vigorous poster and debater.
The following were my comments on the USCF site:
So surprising… Words almost fail me, but for the knowledge that he was a wordsmith.
True enough that anyone who disagreed with him certainly knew it. He’d stand his ground with tenacity and self honesty. But I could always learn from him. Either I’d end up changing my mind, or be forced to understand why I was on the opposite side of his position.
Much like chess, now that I think about it. And very much like a journalist.
