Merle C. Vaughan, age 75, died Friday, July 27,
2001
Merle C. Vaughan, age 75, died Friday, July 27,
2001
Memorial 11a.m., Tuesday, 7/31/2001, First Baptist Church of Ahoskie.
Arrangements by Garrett Funeral Home.
The North Carolina Checker Association lost a good friend in Merle C. Vaughan. Memorials are being made in his honor. If you would care to make a donation, send a check to the NCCA in care of Clint Pickard, P. O. Box 134, Sanford, N.C. 27331-0134
Merle was from Ahoskie, NC and won the "B" Class NC Open Checker Championship 4 times: 1982, 1986, 1991, and 2000.
His ACF rating was 1861 in 2001. I recall Merle was a whiz at spelling and
pronunciation, I don't think there was a word he couldn't spell and pronounce.
Merle was active in City Government, and an officer of the Ahoskie Chamber of
Commerce. Merle was the fellow who could balance his hat on his nose and
then flip it back on his head. He also like to entertain with his art of
ventriloquism. He was the
Magistrate of Hertford County for years, right up to his death. Merle
loved baseball and could give you statistics off the top of his head about
Gaylord Perry, (Hall of Fame), and older brother Jim Perry, both from
Williamston, NC. He told me about visiting Jim "Catfish" Hunter at his
home, hospital, and attending his funeral. This pitching ace from Hertford, died
in 1999 at age 53 - a victim of ALS, the same disease that cut short the life of
Lou Gehrig, sometime called "Lou Gehrig disease." Hunter began with
the Kansas City Athletics and ended up his pitching career with the New York
Yankees in 1979 at age 33.
July 11, 1979 - The Sanford News-Herald - "It's your move, king me, triple jump: that's checkers folks" - Picture of Merle
June 3, 1984 Sanford News Herald - State Ty
July 7, 1984 Sanford News-Herald - Checker players eye state titles - Picture of Merle
June 10, 1982 Suffolk Sun - Old game keeps pleasure on the move - Picture of Merle