Biography of Dr. Vincent Hayward

Paul Sayre

1960.08.01

Reprinted from WVCA Bulletin #133, August 1960

The Doctor was known to chess players all over the state. He was a leading member of the Association for 13 years, and after retiring to New York (Long Island) was voted a life member for his many years of service. It could be said that Gene Collett founded the Association and gave it a start, A. W. Paull gave it leadership in the early life, and Dr. Hayward nursed it to a degree of maturity. He helped hold it together in lean times, when possible gave it a push forward, and when necessary lent material support. He served as WVCA president in the 1957-58 year and was editor of the Bulletin fron 1950 to 1957. He was a keen partisan, relishing the "politics" of the Association nearly as much as he did chess. He was an unequaled teacher of beginners.

During his years of service at the Veterans Administration in Huntington, he had occasion to deal with many veterans who were disabled. And many of them went away with a chess set which just happened to be lying around, and which the Doctor happened not to be using.

Among the things about which no kidding was allowed in the Doctor's presence were the flag, the uniform, and other patriotic symbols. He was a retired captain, having served as a physician, and was buried as he wished in the National Cemetery, as he wished, with military honors.

The saga of the Hayward wit needs a better Homer than this writer, but those who knew him can think of a number of examples. A potent weapon, it seemed to be directed (with just enough barb to make it stick, he said) now at hypocrisy, now at the modern cult of the casual in speech, manners, and dress, then at hazy thinking, and --neither last nor least-- at obstructions in the path of chess. He was not above a joke on himself. When he dryly referred to his spells as unsuccessful heart attacks', his friends had to smile, even though they felt a twinge. The man had courage.

Some of his pet expressions--which bring back fond memories of our chess sessions at the Haywards' home:

Slumps: Some weeks you can't make a nickel.
Boners: No game for a blind man.
Traps: The old ones are the best.
Black and White squares: Wet and dry squares.
Long queen move: Over the hot sand she goes.

While the Doctor loved his act--and even felt a certain obligation toward his public--anyone with common sense knew that it was only an act. That he was behind it all, kind, generous, and steadfastly loyal to his friends and convictions.

Addendum(Tom LaBue): It is mentioned in other issues that the rise in Huntington area chess in the 1950s with then-emerging stars like Don Burdick, Charles Morgan, Paul Sayre and Tom Bergquist, was greatly attributed to the efforts supplied by Drs. Hayward and Werthammer. They supplied chess instruction and materials to the interested youngsters. In fact, Dr. Hayward started the Huntington Junior Chess Club to cater to and develop the enthusiasm and talents of the younger chess players.

Back