Chess Publisher Murdered

     Some of my favorite chess books are those by Purdy, the best games of Nezhmetdinov and Mark Buckley’s Practical Chess Analysis; they were published by Bob Long of Thinkers’ Press, Inc. 
     Not too long ago Charlie Gary III, 19, of Davenport, Iowa found himself facing battery, theft, and robbery charges stemming from a case in October of 2019. On October 27, 2019, Gary assaulted a 63-year-old man of Rock Island, Illinois striking him in the head with a TV and a lamp and reportedly stole the man’s vehicle and 55 inch flat-screen television. 
     On Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at approximately 5:43 pm, Davenport Police were dispatched to 1500 Leclaire Street in Davenport in reference to an unresponsive person. It was Bob Long, age 74, who was pronounced dead at the scene. 
     Police later located Gary in Long's vehicle when he was arrested. Gary admitted to police that he forcibly entered went Long’s home with the intent to steal Long’s car. Police say Gary strangled Long, killing him and then stole property and his car and left the scene. 
     Gary was charged with 1st Degree Murder, 1st Degree Robbery and 1st Degree Burglary and was held held in the Scott County Jail. 
     Over his 50-year career Long’s had several publishing and business ventures: Chessco, Thinkers Press, Gilbert and Lange, and most recently, the Chess Butler. Long was also the authorized publisher of the collected works of C.J.S. Purdy, described by Bobby Fischer as one of the best chess writers and teachers in the world. 
     After selling his mail-order chess business to Chess4Less in the early 2000s, Long returned to the chess marketplace shortly after his non-compete expired and he continued to sell chess books and equipment to his customers. Note: I have known the owner of Chess4Less, Paul Azzurro, since he was a high school student and I can highly recommend Chess4Less for your chess needs. 
     I never personally met Long who was often described as a curmudgeon, but back in 2012 I received a pleasant e-mail from him and we ended up discussing several topics. In the e-mail he told me, “Everyone says I am opinionated and have strong opinions. I don't disagree with that. But the vast majority are based on experience and dealing with a fickle public. I have been around those who stand for nothing but who will fall for anything--not pleasant chaps.”