The Sanford Herald

17/12/06   Pg A03  

Checkers community remembers Lowder

By JONATHAN OWENS

Herald Staff Writer

SANFORD — Sanford resident and world-class checkers grandmaster Elbert Lowder died Thursday at the age of 74. A native of Albemarle, Lowder was respected nationally, as well as worldwide, as one of the greatest checkers player of all time. At his death, he was ranked as the fourth-best player in the country. Lowder won the first of his 36 state checkers championships — the most ever in the state’s history — in 1952 at age 20, and for more than 50 years he dominated the North Carolina checkers scene. After suffering injuries in a near fatal car crash in January 2004, Lowder recovered to win his last state crown later that year in Kinston. He won 12 southern region tournaments and three U.S. Open “Go-As-You-Please” competitions. Lowder was also the world champion in 11-man ballot play, where one piece is removed from the table to start, and participated in more than 140 regional and national tournaments.

“He’s done about all you could do in the world of checkers,” said J.R. Smith, secretary of the N.C. Checker Association. “He’s probably played more games than anyone alive.”

Smith said Lowder never got the respect he deserved as a grandmaster player of the game. “He always seemed to be in the shadow of Marion Tinsley (who is widely considered the greatest player of all time),” Smith said. “He always played right beside Tinsley and the greats, but never could quite beat them.” Nonetheless, Lowder became somewhat of a pioneer in the game, dominating the 11-man ballot, which Smith said is hard to master because it takes so many moves. “It’s really amazing what that does to the game,” he said. “And Elbert dominated it.” Tim Laverty, who lived and worked with Lowder at the Piano House in Jonesboro for more than 25 years and is himself a well respected checkers player, said his friend, taught him everything he knew about fixing pianos, and a lot about checkers as well.

He said the pair worked well in tandem and made each other stronger players. “He would always have his board,” Laverty said. “He would come up with an idea, his own little innovation, and I would try to knock it out. Two great players together can really help each other. It was give and take.” Laverty remembered Lowder as an “easygoing fellow who liked to work on pianos,” and added he was a genius at the game. Smith said world-class players like Lowder “certainly have a brilliant mind,” and an average checker player wouldn’t stand a chance against him. “There’s no way an average player could play with Elbert,” he said. “He had so many patterns memorized; he could immediately recognize what they did wrong.” Fellow Sanford checkers enthusiast Clint Pickard said he sold Lowder a car in 1960, and rented him one years later so Lowder could drive to a tournament in Texas. Pickard remembered his friend as a hard worker and a checkers master most of all. “He was always well respected,” Pickard said. “And he tuned a lot of pianos.”

The Stanly News & Press
Published: December 18, 2006 02:05 pm
Obituaries

Elbert Lane Lowder

Sunday, December 17, 2006 — Elbert Lane Lowder, 74, of Sanford died Dec. 14, 2006.  He was the youngest son of the late L.C. and Icie Cody Lowder.  He is survived by two sisters, Ramelle McDonald of Michigan and Louise Cranford of Badin and many nephews and nieces.  He was a member of First Street United Methodist Church.  He was well-known in North Carolina and other states as a checker champion. A memorial service will be in Albemarle at First Street United Methodist Church on January 13, at 2:30 PM.  Contributions in his memory may be made to First Street United Methodist Church in Albemarle.

The Sanford Herald
www.sanfordherald.com  Published: January 06, 2007

ELBERT LOWDER

SANFORD — Elbert Lane Lowder, 74, of 302 W. Raleigh St., died Thursday (12/14/06) at Liberty Commons of Lee County. He was born in Stanly County, son of the late Lawson Cornelius Lowder and Icie Jane Cody Lowder. He was the owner and operator of the Piano House and a veteran of the Army. He is survived by his sisters, Louise Cranford of New London and Ramelle Mc Donald of Jackson, Mich. A memorial service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at First Street United Methodist Church in Albemarle. Condolences may be made at www.bridgescameronfuneralhome. com. Arrangements are by Bridges Cameron Funeral Home of Sanford.

THE STANLY NEWS AND PRESS

Published: Friday, January 12, 2007 09:44 am
Obituaries

Elbert Lane Lowder

Thursday, January 11, 2007 — Elbert Lane Lowder, 74, of Sanford, died Dec. 14, 2006, of complications following a stroke. The youngest of thirteen children of L.C. and Icie Cody Lowder, he was born and raised in Albemarle, graduating from Albemarle High School in 1950. Following that, he served in the U.S. Army in the ’50’s, most notably in Italy, studied and received a certificate in piano technology from Rockwood Piano Institute in Clearfield, Pa., and made his living selling, tuning, and repairing pianos through his business, The Piano House, in Sanford.

His truest calling, however, was in the field of playing and analyzing the game of checkers. He won the North Carolina Open Tournament for the first of 34 times in 1952 at the age of 20. Later a GrandMaster checkers player, he is also the undefeated World 11-Man Ballot checkers champion. Another record: he played in at least 284 checker tournaments locally, nationally, and internationally over a period of 57 years. At the time of his death, he was ranked fourth in the nation and 28th in the world as a player and was well-respected for his contributions to all aspects of the game.

Mr. Lowder was a lifetime member of North Carolina Checkers Association and the American Checkers Federation, and held membership at First United Methodist Church in Albemarle.

He is survived by two sisters, Ramelle McDonald, of Jackson, Michigan, and Louise Cranford, of Badin, many nieces and nephews, and his business partner and fellow checker player, Tim Laverty.

A memorial service will be celebrated in Albemarle at First Street United Methodist Church Saturday, Jan. 13, at 2:30 p.m. The family will visit with guests following the ceremony.

Contributions in Mr. Lowder’s memory may be made to First Street United Methodist Church in Albemarle.

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The Fayetteville Observer
FayObserver.com

 OBITUARIES FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 04, 2007 - pg 5B

 Elbert L. Lowder
SANFORD — Elbert Lane Lowder, 74, of 302 W. Raleigh St., died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, in Liberty Commons of Lee County.

Mr. Lowder was an Army veteran.

Services: Memorial, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, January 13 in First Street United Methodist Church in Albemarle.

Survived by: Sisters, Louise Cranford and Ramelle McDonald.

Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home of Sanford.

Condolences

The Raleigh News & Observer
newsobserver.com

 OBITUARIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2007

 SANFORD - Lowder, Elbert L. - Ebert L. Lowder, 74, of 302 W. Raleigh St., died Thursday, Dec. 14.  Memorial Services 2:30 p.m. Saturday, January 13 in First Street United Methodist Church in Albemarle.  Arrangements by Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home, Sanford.

Bridges - Cameron Funeral Home 

The Sanford Herald

15/12/06   Pg A01  

DEATHS

SANFORD Catherine Blackwelder, 79 Henrietta Judd, 78 Elbert Lowder, 74 Phaedra Mc Crimmon, 34 Lillian Thomas, 94 Nottie Womack, 86

LILLINGTON Ruby Moore, 84 ROCK HILL, S.C. Julia Lawrence, 81

The Sanford Herald

15/12/06   Pg A03  

OBITUARIES

ELBERT LOWDER SANFORD — Elbert Lane Lowder, 74, of 302 W. Raleigh St. died Thursday (12/14/06) at Liberty Commons of Lee County. Arrangements will be announced by Bridges Cameron Funeral Home of Sanford. 

 Elbert's Death Announced 

Tribute to Elbert