A SPECIAL EDITION !!! - 06 /16 /04 - Editor: C. Thompson
POOL CHECKER NEWS-CHICAGO
(A monthly e-mail newsletter-pertaining to activities in the area)
-Produced by the 1st-week - monthly-
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The Homan Sq. Pool Checkers and Chess Club
of Chicago
3559 W. Arthington St.
Chicago, IL.
Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 2:30 - 9:00 P.M.
Phone - 312-746-6650
Pres. Charles Thompson
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(1975)
Leon Baynes, my friend, an avid and loyal Pool Checkers player, and a priceless companion for nearly four decades, has passed on. His death brings to an end a storied chapter for those of us who walked and talked with him everyday. While our path took different directions, for long stretches of time, we remained steadfast friends until the very end.
I met Leon back in the late sixties. Together, we formed Chicago's first organized Pool Checkers Club-the Westside Pool Checkers Club. He was its business manager; I was its president. Today, nearly forty years later, we found ourselves during somewhat the same thing together, for the Homan Sq. Pool Checkers and Chess Club. Again, we found ourselves in the same capacity. He was, again, the business manager and I was, again, the president. Pool Checkers was his passion, Pool Checkers was his love, and to a great extent, Pool Checkers was his life. And, he played the game well-attaining the level of Jr. Master on the national scene and a Class A player on the local scene.
In his final visit to the Club, we knew his health was failing, but even so, he made a gesture that will always remain with me; he tried to 'pay his dues'-saying, "Here are my dues." Of course, I along with the other club members said, "No Leon, don‘t worry about your dues, just try to work and get your health better." In my final conversation with him, just days before his passing, I said to him "How are you doing?" And he said, "Well, I guess I will be all right, but I won't be coming to the club for a while." That was the kind of person he was; that was the kind of commitment he showed.
For me, his presence will always be missed.
The Arrangements are as follows:
Saturday, June 19, 2004
The Wake; 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
The Funeral: 11:00 A.M. - 12.00 Noon
Location:
Douglas Park Baptist Church
1838 S. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, Illinois
Charles Thompson