Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery

Hollingsworth History of Chess and Ft. Bragg Chess Champion

JAMES MASON HOLLINGSWORTH's Profile Picture

Chief TD and co-Organizer, BRAZOS

US Chess Local Tournament Director
29 Tournaments as Chief TD (according to USCF electronic records going back only to 1991)
Expert with manual pairing cards
Proficient with computer pairing systems
Library includes USCF Official Rules of Chess (Editions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Recruited and trained many TD's over the years
USCF Life Member
Library includes 50 years of Chess Life
Co-founder of RRSO, the annual team match between the most fanatical chess players in Oklahoma and Texas
Texas Chess Team Captain (2003, 2016, 2017)

Chess Expert
Peak rating is 2004 (June 1988)
Rating Floor is 1800
"Once an Expert always an Expert" (GM Larry Evans)
Ranked in the 95th Percentile for all Texas chess players

Ranked in the 90th Percentile for all USA chess players

727 Lifetime rated chess games

Active member of the Tarrant County Chess Club

Served honorably in and retired from the U.S. Army

Member, Army Chess Team (1989)

Top Twelve Distinction out of over 100 applicants (four times), U.S. Army
U.S. Army Chess Championship (1983, 1989, 1991, 2007, 2008)
Fort Bragg Chess co-Champion (2006)
Fort Bragg Chess Champion (2007)
Lawton (OK) City Chess Champion (1987)

Cameron University (Lawton, OK) Chess Champion (1987)

Southwest Oklahoma Speed Chess Champion (1991)

Lawton (OK) City Speed Chess Champion (1990)

James Mason Hollingsworth, Major, U.S. Army (retired), Master of Health Administration, and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic and Web Design, passed away unexpectedly at his home in North Richland Hills, Texas, on September 19, 2024. Born on June 12, 1955, in Dayton, Ohio, he lived a life marked by service, creativity, and love.

Jim was a devoted father to Beth, Billy, Linda, and Kristin Hollingsworth. He cherished his role as a grandfather to 14 grandchildren and a great-grandfather to 2 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his father, Randall Eugene Hollingsworth, and stepmother, Madonna Hollingsworth, as well as his sisters, Victoria Hollingsworth and Amy Chilton, and his beloved dog, Ladybug. He was preceded in death by his mother, Sydney Anne (Joanne) Wilson, and one angel grandchild, Aurora-Aryana Madonna Hollingsworth.

James was a proud veteran and Army green, through and through. Jim enlisted in the Army in 1978 from Beckley WV. He attended the quartermaster school at Fort Lee, VA (1978) and then assigned to Fort Sill, OK (1978) as Supply Specialist with the 100th S&S. In November of 1981 Jim was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Benning, GA. He was branched as Field Artillery Officer and attended the Officer Basic Course in 1982 at Fort Sill, OK. Upon completion of OBC his first duty assignment was Fort Hood with 29th Field Artillery. Moving through Jim's career he commanded a Field Artillery Battery with 2nd Inf Division FA in South Korea in 1987 to 1988. After completing 14 years on active duty and achieving the rank of Captain, Jim left the Army and joined the IRR from 1992 to 2005 while pursuing a civilian career. While in the IRR Jim was promoted to a Field Grade officer to the rank of Major. In November 2005 He was recalled to active as an IRR officer for GWOT in support of OIF and trained as a Civil Affairs officer to deploy as a USACAPOC officer under USASOC at Fort Bragg NC. After civil affairs training, he became the USACAPOC 1st Training Brigade mobilization support officer to deploy civil affairs units to OIF and OEF in support of GWOT. After serving at Fort Bragg, NC from OCT 2005 to OCT 2008 he moved USACAPOC mob operations to Fort Dix NJ serving as the Mob support officer from NOV 2008 to NOV 2009 completing his active-duty time. Jim joined the reserves in NOV 2009 serving with the 490th civil Affairs battalion at Fort Worth Texas where he retired in July 2012 with over 20 years of service from the United States Army. His awards include Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4th award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), The Global War on Terrorism Medals in addition to many other medals. In addition, during his time as a Field Artillery officer he was awarded the Distinguished Ancient Order of Saint Barber. 

Jim leaves behind a profound impact on the chess community. A passionate chess player, Jim achieved Chess Expert status in 1988 while serving in Korea. Jim was selected for the All-Army Chess Championship seven times; mission requirements kept him out of two. He earned a place on the Army Chess Team in 1989. He co-founded the RRSO, an annual team match between Oklahoma and Texas chess enthusiasts. and was Chief Organizer of the Texas Armed Forces Open Chess Championships in 2017 and 2018, as well as the Texas Women’s Chess Championships in 2018 and 2019. Jim was instrumental in the success of the 62nd US Armed Forces Open Chess Championship in 2021, which became the third largest in history. In 2024, a month before his passing, he was honored with the Meritorious Service Award by the US Chess Open for his 45 years of dedicated service to Chess. He was a life member of both US Chess and TCA

JAMES MASON HOLLINGSWORTH

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PERSIAN GULF

MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL

ARMY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

US ARMY,

MAJ

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