Retired, yes, but not forgotten.
After nearly 25 years as a chess coach in our community, a serious illness that zapped his strength and focus caused Bill Cheal to give up those semi-weekly lessons and tournament weekends.
During peak years, approximately 75 students were involved off and on in chess clubs each year at Thrasher and Nolan elementary schools. Many of them also met Monday evenings at the library for additional practice sessions. A few continued their hobby, and several newcomers were picked up when Chess Club was introduced at Signal Mountain Middle/High School.
Cheal started down this path as a favor to Jean Trohanis, a neighbor and former principal at Thrasher, where his wife, Phyllis, had just retired as a teacher. One of Bill’s early teams there included grandson Sam Wickizer, who is now 23 years old and a University of Alabama grad working as a civil engineer.
Taking a cue from his granddad, Wickizer used rainy-day recesses to teach fellow classmates how to play the game. “[This group] went on to be one of the best chess classes I ever had,” Cheal noted with pride.
Although neither a Signal Mountain team nor an individual player was a state champion in the Scholastic competitions that include public and private schools, one of Cheal’s pupils was runner up in the state individual contest, and one team placed third at state. Many players and teams won at regional competitions.
Cheal said it was a huge accomplishment when Signal’s students competed against those who play chess daily (with weekly mini tournaments) at magnet and private schools from Memphis and Nashville.
He is proud that at least one of five possible Signal Mountain teams advanced to State most years, with two or three going some years.
Tournaments usually lasted all day.
Cheal’s advice to “take your time before making a move” led to both longer tournament matches but also more wins, recall SMMHS grads Thomas and Oliver Nimon, brothers who were among his star pupils.
George Andreescu, another star pupil and college grad, valued similar advice.
“Mr. Cheal taught me early on the value of patience and evaluating multiple options through his catchphrase of ‘sit on your hands,’” Andreescu said. “This quote’s meaning of rationally thinking before moving went on to enhance my chess journey, especially when I was younger and prone to blitzing out moves. It especially helped me advance in tournament chess. Even now, it stays with me in my current state of recreational chess and tutoring kids at better understanding the game.”
Andreescu assisted with the chess club at SMMHS and occasionally drops in at the local library when in town.
Former Thrasher student JJ Massey said Cheal was “always patient and gave thoughtful guidance to each of us, no matter how good we were.” “He encouraged us to think strategically and solve problems, and his kindness made him so approachable. He wasn’t just our chess teacher,” Massey said. “He was a mentor. He helped us develop focus and perseverance, both on and off the chessboard.”
Former Nolan student Nicholas Barrett agreed, saying, “Some of the lessons we learned in chess were good for real life - like always having to think at least three moves ahead.”
Like in sports, the game of chess also created close bonds among students from different schools.
Massey said, Cheal “created a real sense of community among us students, and we all became friends because of him.”
Massey, Barrett and other former chess students who joined the SMMHS band program often played chess during “down time” at band competitions and on breaks during the long days of band camp.
Many of Cheal’s pupils not only earned chess trophies but also excelled in math and music, where studies have shown a close correlation.
History and Progress
Cheal started playing as a youngster in second grade due to his father playing chess at West Point Military Academy. As a “military brat,” Cheal continued to play chess in many states across our nation as well as in Berlin, Germany.
At one time, Signal’s chess community included students with Egyptian, Romanian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Taiwanese, Korean, French and Iraqi roots. Cheal joked that, “We have a mini U.N. in our chess clubs up here.”
Cheal was thankful to have others assist him over the years.
Retired physician Jim Dodds, now deceased, was one of the first to start helping after a grandson joined the club. Sam Harrelson evolved into one of Signal’s best players.
After Dodds left, retired businessman Joe Kodsi came on board, followed by Rick Rogers and others.
Faculty sponsors were necessary at the schools, especially after chess had to move from an activity during free period or study hall to an after-school club.
Mary Ferguson and Matt Sentef have served as club sponsors at Thrasher, where chess is still being played. Diane Huseman, Nancy Gill, and Laura Dowd were sponsors at Nolan, which needs both a new sponsor and coach. Anyone interested in serving in those roles, which entails a couple of hours one afternoon a week, should contact Principal Ashley Wilson.
Jamie Brock still sponsors Chess Club each Monday at SMMHS, where math and physics teachers occasionally drop in to challenge the students.
Chess teaches discipline as well as cause-and-effect thinking, Cheal said, because “we play both offensively and defensively at the same time.”
Unfortunately, both Covid and then death of the state’s executive director for Scholastic Chess had a devastating impact on participation locally and at tournaments.
Cheal said membership had dwindled to a handful of students at our local schools after the pandemic and just before he had to retire following a cancer diagnosis last winter.
Coach Cheal hated having to give up chess but chemotherapy and other meds have zapped his strength and cause him to doze off often.
Cheal hopes others will continue to assist so that chess can continue to be offered as an extra-curricular activity to local students.
In addition to school clubs, both kids and adults are invited to play chess each Monday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Signal Mountain Library, where Josh Davies graciously volunteers his time. Join them!
by Melissa Barrett
After nearly 25 years as a chess coach in our community, a serious illness that zapped his strength and focus caused Bill Cheal to give up those semi-weekly lessons and tournament weekends.
During peak years, approximately 75 students were involved off and on in chess clubs each year at Thrasher and Nolan elementary schools. Many of them also met Monday evenings at the library for additional practice sessions. A few continued their hobby, and several newcomers were picked up when Chess Club was introduced at Signal Mountain Middle/High School.
Cheal started down this path as a favor to Jean Trohanis, a neighbor and former principal at Thrasher, where his wife, Phyllis, had just retired as a teacher. One of Bill’s early teams there included grandson Sam Wickizer, who is now 23 years old and a University of Alabama grad working as a civil engineer.
Taking a cue from his granddad, Wickizer used rainy-day recesses to teach fellow classmates how to play the game. “[This group] went on to be one of the best chess classes I ever had,” Cheal noted with pride.
Although neither a Signal Mountain team nor an individual player was a state champion in the Scholastic competitions that include public and private schools, one of Cheal’s pupils was runner up in the state individual contest, and one team placed third at state. Many players and teams won at regional competitions.
Cheal said it was a huge accomplishment when Signal’s students competed against those who play chess daily (with weekly mini tournaments) at magnet and private schools from Memphis and Nashville.
He is proud that at least one of five possible Signal Mountain teams advanced to State most years, with two or three going some years.
Tournaments usually lasted all day.
Cheal’s advice to “take your time before making a move” led to both longer tournament matches but also more wins, recall SMMHS grads Thomas and Oliver Nimon, brothers who were among his star pupils.
George Andreescu, another star pupil and college grad, valued similar advice.
“Mr. Cheal taught me early on the value of patience and evaluating multiple options through his catchphrase of ‘sit on your hands,’” Andreescu said. “This quote’s meaning of rationally thinking before moving went on to enhance my chess journey, especially when I was younger and prone to blitzing out moves. It especially helped me advance in tournament chess. Even now, it stays with me in my current state of recreational chess and tutoring kids at better understanding the game.”
Andreescu assisted with the chess club at SMMHS and occasionally drops in at the local library when in town.
Former Thrasher student JJ Massey said Cheal was “always patient and gave thoughtful guidance to each of us, no matter how good we were.” “He encouraged us to think strategically and solve problems, and his kindness made him so approachable. He wasn’t just our chess teacher,” Massey said. “He was a mentor. He helped us develop focus and perseverance, both on and off the chessboard.”
Former Nolan student Nicholas Barrett agreed, saying, “Some of the lessons we learned in chess were good for real life - like always having to think at least three moves ahead.”
Like in sports, the game of chess also created close bonds among students from different schools.
Massey said, Cheal “created a real sense of community among us students, and we all became friends because of him.”
Massey, Barrett and other former chess students who joined the SMMHS band program often played chess during “down time” at band competitions and on breaks during the long days of band camp.
Many of Cheal’s pupils not only earned chess trophies but also excelled in math and music, where studies have shown a close correlation.
History and Progress
Cheal started playing as a youngster in second grade due to his father playing chess at West Point Military Academy. As a “military brat,” Cheal continued to play chess in many states across our nation as well as in Berlin, Germany.
At one time, Signal’s chess community included students with Egyptian, Romanian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Taiwanese, Korean, French and Iraqi roots. Cheal joked that, “We have a mini U.N. in our chess clubs up here.”
Cheal was thankful to have others assist him over the years.
Retired physician Jim Dodds, now deceased, was one of the first to start helping after a grandson joined the club. Sam Harrelson evolved into one of Signal’s best players.
After Dodds left, retired businessman Joe Kodsi came on board, followed by Rick Rogers and others.
Faculty sponsors were necessary at the schools, especially after chess had to move from an activity during free period or study hall to an after-school club.
Mary Ferguson and Matt Sentef have served as club sponsors at Thrasher, where chess is still being played. Diane Huseman, Nancy Gill, and Laura Dowd were sponsors at Nolan, which needs both a new sponsor and coach. Anyone interested in serving in those roles, which entails a couple of hours one afternoon a week, should contact Principal Ashley Wilson.
Jamie Brock still sponsors Chess Club each Monday at SMMHS, where math and physics teachers occasionally drop in to challenge the students.
Chess teaches discipline as well as cause-and-effect thinking, Cheal said, because “we play both offensively and defensively at the same time.”
Unfortunately, both Covid and then death of the state’s executive director for Scholastic Chess had a devastating impact on participation locally and at tournaments.
Cheal said membership had dwindled to a handful of students at our local schools after the pandemic and just before he had to retire following a cancer diagnosis last winter.
Coach Cheal hated having to give up chess but chemotherapy and other meds have zapped his strength and cause him to doze off often.
Cheal hopes others will continue to assist so that chess can continue to be offered as an extra-curricular activity to local students.
In addition to school clubs, both kids and adults are invited to play chess each Monday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Signal Mountain Library, where Josh Davies graciously volunteers his time. Join them!
by Melissa Barrett
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