Check Mates

Arthur Meether makes young friends through chess at the library

By Trisha Marczak (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, April 19, 2008

Arthur Meether is worried about the way some children spend their free time these days. To make a difference in the Fergus Falls community, he has spent the past four years volunteering his time as a chess mentor at the public library.

“It forces you to think. One of the things that I am concerned about in modern games is their violence,” Meether said.

And it looks as though he’s making an impact. Siblings, 7-year-old Mary and 11-year-old David Grotberg, hardly miss the oppurtunity to share a game with Meether. For the past two years, David has been working on his skills in hopes that he may one day reach the level of his mentor.

“Now I’m doing geometry, so it’s easier to beat him,” said David.

Meether admits that, occasionally, his students prevail, but it’s nothing he’s ashamed of.

“I’m very much honored when a student beats me,” he said. “I never give anybody a victory. If they win a game, it is because they have out smarted me. It doesn’t happen very often.”

Meether began playing chess nearly 80 years ago as young boy in Sioux County, Iowa. He and his family didn’t have the convenience of electricity, so chess was a way they visited with one another. He said he tried as much as possible to play the game, even before he was old enough to understand the ins and outs.

“I admit all I did was move my peices around and amuse my aunts and uncles,” he said.

Meether, a theologist and retired Army officer, has a number of regular guests that frequent his chess table. When required, He manages his time by playing two opponents at once. While one player contemplates their move, he makes his move on the neighboring board. His three hour time slot is usually filled, but he makes a point not to turn anyone away. In fact, library director, Walt Dunlap, can recall a few times when Meether was on his way out the door at the end of the day, but stayed because his guests kept coming.

“We’re highly complimented that he would spend so much time with our youngsters,” said Dunlap.

Last weekend, Meether’s dedication to the community was ackwnoledged when the Friends of the Fergus Falls Public Library group named him the first ever Volunteer of the Year.

“It was a surprise. They invited me to come to this meeting. I didn’t know they were going to award me,” he said. “I went for the free lunch.”

For those involved, the time spent playing chess at the library isn’t only about the match. Whether it’s a short history lesson, a session in French, or a joke shared, Meether’s mentees walk away with much more than a solid understanding of chess.

Meether can be found every Tuesday from 2-5 p.m. at the library.