Summary:

- USCF Expert

- 3-Time Georgia State Champion

- 3-Time Georgia Open Champion

- GCA President 1965, Secretary-Treasurer 1964, 1965-1970

- Georgia Chess Letter, Editor 1964-1968

- Tournament Director and Bookseller

One of the most important persons in early Georgia chess history was Philip M. Lamb.  In spite of progressive blindness, Lamb contributed to Georgia chess in multiple areas.

Former GCA President and 2024 GCA Hall of Fame Inductee L. Thad Rogers states that Lamb was known to have to take insulin shots at tournaments for his diabetes mellitus and that he had progressive blindness from diabetic retinopathy.

Lamb was the Georgia State Champion in 1960 (details unavailable).  He was 1967 Georgia State Co-Champion (with Day, Wood, and Murrell) at 4-1 (3-0-2).  He was the 1970 Georgia State Co-Champion (with Wade) at 5½-½ (they drew one another in the first round), and Lamb won the 1^st place trophy on tiebreaks.

He won the 1966 Georgia Open outright with a perfect 5-0 score.  Lamb scored 4-1 (3-0-2) to tie for 1^st place (with Whitaker, Thombs, and Blair) at the 1969 Georgia Open; but Lamb was 1^st on tiebreaks. By 1974, Lamb was almost completely blind, yet he was the 1974 Georgia Open Co-Champion (with IM Whitaker) with a score of 5-1 (4-0-2).

 

The Georgia Chess Letter (GCL) issues show him with ratings in the 1900’s since at least the year 1965.  The September-October 1972 issue of the Georgia Chess Association Newsletter (GCAN) shows him as achieving United States Chess Federation (USCF) Expert with a rating of 2000.

 

Lamb was the Georgia State Chess Association (GSCA) Secretary-Treasurer from 1964-1965 and 1967-1970. He was also the GSCA President from 1965-1966.  The GSCA changed its name to the Georgia Chess Association (GCA) in 1970, and he was GCA Secretary-Treasurer from 1970-1971.

Rogers states that Lamb won an election in 1966 to become a USCF Regional Vice President for Region IV (Southern) from 1966 to 1969.

Rogers adds that Lamb was the Georgia State Postal Chess Editor [perhaps Coordinator or Director would be a better term] from its creation in 1963 until 1967.

Lamb was the Editor for the GCL from 1964-1968.  He was also a regular contributor to the GCL from 1964-1968 with “End Game Study”.

 

In the “50 Years Georgia Chess Association Publications” issue of Georgia Chess, Editor Mark Taylor, Ph.D., had an article “A brief history of Georgia Chess editors”. Professor Taylor stated,

“Philip Lamb†

A Georgia state champion and energetic GCA leader, Lamb edited the Letter for four years and produced over 20 issues between 1964 and 1968, remaining our third most prolific [behind GCA Hall of Fame Inductee Dan Lucas and Taylor] editor.”

 

Rogers states that in 1967, David Truesdel and Philip M. Lamb started International Chess Imports to sell merchandise. Their first project was putting out the 1967 US Open Championship (which was held in Atlanta, GA) booklet.  After Truesdel’s departure from International Chess Imports, Lamb continued with L. Thad Rogers.  After Lamb’s departure because of ill health, International Chess Imports became American Chess Promotions under Rogers in February 1975.

 

Issues of GCL show that Lamb was a Tournament Director (TD) since at least 1965, and he directed several tournaments in Georgia in the 1960’s.  Rogers states that Lamb was the TD for the 1965 Air Force Candidates tournament for the Air Force representatives for the 1965 U.S. Armed Forces Championship.

Rogers states that in 1966 Lamb and Robert H. Williams headed a scholastic committee to get chess in the schools. Philip M. Lamb, along with John C. Williams and Jim Gates, were true visionaries, as they were the first Georgians to promote scholastic chess.  The first Georgia High School Chess Championship was held in Columbus, GA in 1968; the second in Lamb’s hometown of Macon, GA in 1969; the third was held in John C. Williams’ hometown of Pearson, GA in 1970.

 

In summary, Philip M. Lamb was a USCF Expert that became the Georgia State Champion twice (1960, 1970) and Co-Champion once (1967).  He was the Georgia Open Champion twice (1966, 1969) and Co-Champion once (1974). In spite of progressive blindness, Lamb served the Georgia State chess organization during its early years as Secretary-Treasurer twice for a total of six years and as President for one year.  He also served at the National level as a USCF Regional Vice President for three years. Lamb also served the Georgia state chess publication during its formative years as Editor and contributor for four years.  He also served as a USCF Tournament Director.

 

Philip M. Lamb made significant achievements to Georgia chess in the areas of competition (over-the-board), promotion, journalism, organization, service, and leadership.  In spite of progressive blindness, he significantly bettered chess within the State of Georgia.

Sources:

  Georgia Chess Letter

  Georgia Chess Association Newsletter

  Georgia Chess (November/December 2012 issue),

   Chess Life & Review Archives 1966 - 1969

   L. Thad Rogers, interview (11/29/2024),