Quad-City Times from Davenport, Iowa • 46

Times Democrat Sun, Oct. 12, 19SI Young Qenius May Be Chess Champion Art Peirce-Missionary 4D 0 KTl 4 t- 4 t- Vf i eY i i I Will Good Of asonic ROCK 'N ROLLER STUNS EXPERTS NEW YORK (APf There's a Batman comic book on his bedside table and a rock 'n roll program (he -loves the stuff) is blaring over his radio. He's slouchy, appliances for handicapped per gangly and crew-cut; Beaming, rosy cheeked Arthur Dudley Peirce of Davenport is all things to all people. To the scores of cfippled kids he's helped walk again, sons. Save The Temple In a lifetime of Masonic work, what single thing has brought the biggest feeling of satisfaction, to Peirce? "No doubt, it was my part in helping save the Davenport Masonic Temple.

At one time, we "f' were in horrible debt. In the 1930s, we owed $578,000 on the building and couldnt even pay the inter est. The furniture was hauled out of the lobby, and even Masons themselves were calling it a mau 1 i ''v (a rr i 1 soleum," recalled Peirce. But Batman is sprawled over an open chess book and his nail-bitten fingers are deftly moving chess pieces over the black and white board which means more to him than anything else in his life. Bobby Fischer "doesn't want to be a baseball star or a football player or the most popular fellow at the prom.

He wants to be chess champion of the world and it seems a pretty sure bet he will be, Most Americans don't know it. but the chess contest with Russia is riding on the thin shoulders of this 15-year-old boy from Brooklyn. Bobby is hailed by the experts as the greatest chess mind the world has produced in many years. "He doesn't look like one he looks more like a farmer's boy than an intellectual but he is a genius," says Hans Kmoch, secretary of the Manhattan Chess One day Peirce, Cable Von Maur and Joe Kimmell decided he's "Uncle Art," the man who still remembers them almost every Christmas with big panda bears. To members of the Masonic fraternity, he's one of the nation's best known Shriners.

To politicians, he's "a natural candidate" a man who might easily become elected mayor, and who was once sought by the Republicans to run for governor. This is the Art Peirce the community knows, the long-time recorder of Kaaba Shrine Temple, civic leader, showman and businessman. And then there is the other Art Peirce, the behind-the-scenes man whose efforts go unheralded in working with troubled young people, parolees and even finding jobs" for people. on a plan of action. "I told them we'd see the day when our temple was debt free," the present world champion, Rus.

sia's Mikhail Botvinnik. Bobby, who could give a clam lessons on how to keep its mouth shut, won't say what he thinks of his chances. Nobody else thinks he will make it this time. But then, nobody thought he could win the American chess championship at 14 and nobody expected him to do well at the recent international chess tournament in Yugoslavia. Bobby, playing in his first inter national competition, tied for fifth place winning his place in the star-studded Challengers.

If he makes it this try, he'll be the youngest world champion in chess history and only the second American ever to occupy that lofty position. The first U. S. champion was Paul Murphy, who turned the trick at 21 a century ago. Bobby, a tall boy with the classic adolescent slump and light brown hair, sat on his bed, idly moving the figures on the chess board in front of him.

He was dressed as usual in a sports shirt. Bobby won the American chess championship in dungarees and a T-shirt; no one remembers seeing him in a coat and tie. The Russians kept winning the big ones in chess, he said, because "everybody there plays. They're, subsidized." said Peirce. Confidently, the three led the movement under which the temple went into "friendly bankrupt cy then, refinancing was start ed.

Today, for all practical pur Young Bobby Fischer, hailed as a chess genius, is caught in a characteristic pose during a tournament match at the Manhattan Chess Club. (AP Photo) poses, the Masonic Temple is debt free. Peirce says his main hobbv is ARTHUR DUDLEY PEIRCE For instance, there was his trip to Decatur last week to personal helping crippled children. He has been responsible for sending more crippled children to Shrine hospitals than all other Quad-Citians combined ly guarantee that a young man would make good several bum checks: there was a recent visit big, bold links always peck from his sleeves. He looks the part of a politi in Iowa who doesn't know Art Peirce," said a fellow Davenport noble in the Ancient Arabic Or-' dor, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

uud, wnicn is tne nerve center of chess in the United States. He has bscome an international grand master the youngest in the long history of the game and will meet the world's top seven players this year in a challenger's tournament. The exact date and place remain to be determined. The winner will get a crack at manufacturers held a meeting. But those crowds were nothing compared to Peirce's penny sales.

"Remember those 'auctions' back in '48 and '43," he reminisced. "We held them at the Davenport stadium, and they drew 18.000 people a night for two nights. We gave away 13 new cars and vans of merchandise. I tell you, the people went wild. Showmen from all over the country came here to see how it worked.

The Shrine made a lot of money those two years," he grinned. But all good things had to come to an end. The attorney general in Des Moines advised Peirce to quit the penny sales; it was too close to bingo to be a sport. to an Indiana prison to check on schedule js frequently hectic. Last weekend he had 1,300 Jehovah Witnesses into the Masonic a young man soon to be paroled His flair for the theatrical cian or a showman.

The former description he abhors; the latter he adores. had its origins back in the Temple which he manages; the 'days of the Davenport Burtis "No sirree," he flicked the next day there were 3,200 school teachers; the following day, 700 Opera House where Art Peirce served his apprenticeship as a ashes off his cigar (he puffs six day), "you'll never get me in candy butcher, later working up politics." "They've wanted me for to him one of many parolees under his wing, and a long talk with a man having marital woes. "It seems that every Mason with trouble comes to me. When he's out of work, he wants me to find him a job which I try to do; when his son or daughter is mixed up in something and needs help, pop calls on me. For years, they've been calling me Dr.

Anthony," chuckled Peirce. All of this, added to an often- to stage hand to serve such greats as Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor. Eventually he became theater FALL SAVINGS at MERCURY Aluminum Combination Windows are alderman and mayor here; once, the Iowa attorney general (Robert Larson) wanted me to run for governor. No sirree. Politics is treasurer.

not for me ver! The tune "no business like show business" stayed with him when, Peirce would be a good poli at 28, he took over as recorder of tician. By his own admission (and the statement of many associates) hectic schedule as manager of the Davenport Masonic Temple, 0 00 he knows more people by their can mean a heap of work for first name than probably any oth er lowan. Peirce. His wife frequently asks him why he gets involved in so Peirce is past president of the Shrine Recorder's Assn. of North America and was recorder of the far-rcachinc Kaaba Temple of Davenport for 28 years until re Kaaba Temple the youngest man in Shrincdom ever to hold that position.

Peirce immediate began booking shows into the Davenport Masonic Temple. He organized family nights and vaudeville for the Shriners; then branched into big scale circuses. "I have booked just about everything from Liberace to elephants to Jeanette Macdonald," he said. For 26 years Peirce has brought Royal American Shows to Davenport, and he organized the Royal American Shrine Club which has 800 show folk members. One of the prime functions of the tiring two years ago.

many things. "No Philosopher" "Well, I'm no philosopher," he said seriously. "But I feel it would be one hell of a world if no one paid any attention to the other guy's trouble." Dapper "Arthur Dudley lives at 1616 Pine Acre in Davenport. The Peirces have no children. White-haired, rosy-cheeked, and always LAJ He's been active in many fund raising drives from selling war bonds to getting cash for Davenport hospitals, and is a member of the Davenport Airport Comis- All Extruded Custom Made sion.

For several years, on top of his Masonic work, he also owned a Davenport radio station impeccably dressed, Peirce owns "12 or 14 suits." They're tailor made and French cuff shirts with "I doubt if there is a Shrincrlgroup is to buy braces and other THIS OFFER GOOD 2 DAYS ONLY SIEGE Made in Rock Island by Your Friends and Neighbors. WE GIVE G21EEN STAMPS in Folger's COFFEE Del Monte Early Garden SUGAR PEAS Men's Parkas Hip length, dynel lined hoed with tipper end button fly heavy 70 wool interlining! niy Home Owners Only Up to 71 Unifed Inches r- 1 A lb. Jj can WSfl59 85 13 rti'S Ail II Wfife Supply lasts FIRST PAYMENT DECEMBER Boy's Parkas Original Insulated THERMAL SOCKS FLUFFO SHORTENING 3 Cban79C Heavy Weight SWEAT SHIRTS Whitt ly with fltc kick, Nylon For Men nimorctg, mgnT Irrguliri. SPORT SHIRTS $1 29 $2.00 Values Kmpi htit In knpi cold out. forfoct lor work or ploy.

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