Checkers champ Richard Fortman dead at 93

SPRINGFIELD -- Checkers champion and lifelong Springfield resident Richard L. Fortman has died at the age of 93.

Fortman was a six-time Illinois State Champion in checkers and a World Postal Correspondence Checkers Champion. He is best known for the seven-part "Basic Checkers" series of books.

Fortman was regarded internationally as a leading analyst of tournament checkers. The American Checkers Federation named its traveling Gould/Fortman Trophy in part in his honor.

Fortman was born in Springfield in 1915. He worked as a warehouse foreman for a pipeline company. During World War II he served in North Africa and Italy with the U.S. Army.

Fortman and his wife, Faye, celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary last month. He died Nov. 8.