01.23.16 It was a great event honoring the greatest scholastic chess coach that Maine has ever seen. Dick Powell was enthusiastically thanked for his monumental contributions to Deer Isle-Stonington chess with some formal remarks, the unveiling of a granite monument and beautiful stained-glass panels, a luncheon, and a quick chess tournament. Here are impressions from the day along with images, and results.

USCF crosstable of this event

Crosstable of the Non-Rated Section

It's not every day you come across an individual with the great purpose of mind, great teaching skill, and great sense of humor that you find in Coach Dick Powell. The Deer Isle-Stonington chess community came out in force to honor and thank their legendary coach for his years of hard work and dedication to the children of Deer Isle and Stonington.

By all accounts it was a wonderful day of celebration and nostalgia while at the same time witnessing the formal commencement of Coach Powell's retirement from chess coaching left many with heavy hearts.

The coach was honored with flattering remarks by all who were witness to his incredible impact on scholastic chess in Maine.

We hope we will continue to see Coach Powell at tournaments as a player enjoying the game he loves.

Legendary is no exaggeration. In Coach Powell's over three-decade career at Deer Isle-Stonington, he touched the lives of hundreds of students--not all of whom were chess players as he was also a classroom teacher--and amassed thirty-nine state championship titles!

The day began with remarks from your humble reporter thanking Coach Powell for his hard work and dedication to the Deer Isle-Stonington community and a presentation of an official Proclamation by Senator Walter Kumiega III.

Here's a close-up of the Proclamation from the Maine State Senate and House of Representatives recognizing and honoring Coach Dick Powell for his contributions.

Coach Powell's official Proclamation continues the tradition of recognition by the Maine Legislature of the Deer Isle-Stonington chess program.

Immediately after the presentation of the Proclamation, this granite plaque was unveiled along with two beautiful stained-glass panels.

Coach Powell in front of his newly dedicated chess room.

Here are some of the spoils of three decades of Deer Isle-Stonington scholastic chess domination.

And some more spoils.

Yes, more.

Just a few more!

Scrapbooks, assembled over the years by Coach Powell himself, provided historical documentation of the team's successes.

And there were many successes.

After a magnificent luncheon provided free-of-charge by the Deer Isle-Stonington Chess Boosters, who also donated all of the prize money for the tournament and purchased Coach Powell a complimentary USCF membership, it was on to the chess!

The top two sections of the tournament, the Open and U1250, were played in the Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School Library.

The Non-Rated section played in the newly minted chess room.

Chester Young went three for three to tie for first in the Open section only to be stopped by...

Ed Nevells.

Along with Young, former Deer Isle-Stonington player Isaac Marnik scored 3.0 points as did...

Mark Woida.

Another Coach Powell protégé, Cameron Wendell, now head chess coach at Blue Hill Consolidated School, scored 1.0 point in a tough field.


The Merlin of chess coaches, Dick Powell, commands his own set of magical figurines.

Brendan Penfold shared the top spot in the U1250 section with...

Oliver Brown Patricio.

In the process of applying for college, Issac Vaughn, who finished third with 3.0 points, penned an essay describing the influence Coach Powell and the Deer Isle-Stonington chess program had on him.

Benjamin Mock scored 2.0 points along with...

Andy Vaughn.

Penfold has become a household name in Deer Isle-Stonington chess culture. Here's Ben Penfold and brother...

Henry Penfold.

Winners in the U1250 section: Oliver Brown Patricio (left) and Brendan Penfold.

In addition to the rated sections, the tournament also offered a Non-Rated section for fun and trophies. Deer Isle-Stonington High School Sophomore SooZin Cha regained her form and blanked the field to win the section with a perfect 4.0 points in as many games.

Mike Lammey put up 3.0 points and tied for second place with...

Jeff Brink.

Alexander Yeadon took sole forth place with 2.5 points.

Dr. Peter Goebel was one of five players to score 2.0 points. The others were...

Sofia Brown Patricio

Elizabeth Fowlie Mock

McHenna Martin

and Maya Brown.

Gilda Garcia, also known as the coach's wife.

Marissa Clough

Avital Vaughn

Winners in the Non-Rated section (left to right): Jeff Brink (equal second), SooZin Cha (first), and Mike Lammey (equal second).

Thanks for the memories Coach Powell! We wish you all the best in your adventures to come.