Robert Felt

Robert Felt

Robert Felt (1953-2002) was a computer programmer, [Christine Montgomery, "Scrambling for the Prize in Scrabble," "Washington Times", November 25, 1997, p. C8.] USCF-rated chess Expert, Tennessee Junior chess champion, [Manny Fernandez, "Spellbound by Scrabble," "San Francisco Chronicle", October 12, 1997, p. Z1.] and champion "Scrabble" player.

Born in Memphis,Jon Anderson, "Chicagoan ready from the word 'go'; He'll be our man in London for Scrabble Championshps, "Chicago Tribune", September 26, 1991, Tempo section p. 1.] he entered the University of Chicago in 1971 and tested out of so many requirements that he was awarded Junior status. At the University of Chicago he a was member of the chess team, at one point being first board on the University's second team for two Pan-American Intercollegiate national tournaments. He also competed for the University at the NCAA national contract bridge tournament.

In 1978, he left the University without a degree and joined Banker's Life and Casualty as a computer programmer. At the TDM division of Rand McNally he enjoyed a reputation as one of the best CICS programmers in the world. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he established 911 systems for police and fire dispatchers. Much of the technology at most 911 call centers is derived from his early work.

In 1990, Felt became the first "Scrabble" player to win both the US National Scrabble Championship [Rebecca Reinhardt, "Fighting Words," "Village Voice", February 19, 2002, p. 193.] and the UK Scrabble championship in the same year, an amazing feat that required him to memorize two different dictionaries. He achieved a peak rating of 2155, [ [http://www.cross-tables.com/results.php?p=4076 Recent Tourneys - Robert Felt ] ] which in February 2008 would easily be the number one rating again. [ [http://www.cross-tables.com/histo.php?hr=--- cross-tables.com - Ratings histogram ] ]

Trivia

*While in college his nickname was "Sloth" after one of the seven deadly sins. He was often found asleep in the stairwells at Hitchcock Hall (now known as Snell-Hitchcock). because he did not want to climb all the stairs to his fourth floor suite.

References

External links

* [http://www.cross-tables.com/results.php?p=4076 Felt's career "Scrabble" tournament record (from Cross-tables.com)]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Robert Campagnola — (formerly known as Harikesa Swami, Vishnupada) was one of the leading disciples of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and formerly a guru within the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (commonly known as the Hare Krishnas or ISKCON) …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Whitaker (photographer) — Robert Whitaker (born 1939) is a renowned British photographer, best known internationally for his many photographs of The Beatles, taken between 1964 and 1966, and for his photographs of the rock group Cream, which were used in the Martin Sharp… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert K. Greenleaf — (1904 1990) was the founder of the modern Servant leadership movement.Greenleaf was born in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1904. After graduating from Carleton College in Minnesota, he went to work for AT T. For the next forty years he researched… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Aston Coffin —     Robert Aston Coffin     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Robert Aston Coffin     An ecclesiastical writer and bishop, b. at Brighton, England, 19 July, 1819; d. at Teignmouth, Devonshire, 6 April, 1885. He received his secondary education at Harrow… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Robert Ellis Dunn — (1928 July 5, 1996) was an American musician and choreographer who led classes in dance composition, contributing to the birth of the postmodern dance period in the early 1960s in New York City [1]. Contents 1 Early years 2 Career 3 …   Wikipedia

  • Robert G. Vosper — Robert Gordon Vosper (June 21, 1913 May 14, 1994) was an American educator and librarian who oversaw college libraries at the University of Kansas and the University of California, Los Angeles. Vosper served as president of the American Library… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Ettinger — Robert Chester Wilson Ettinger (born December 04, 1918) is known as the father of cryonics due to the impact of his 1962 book The Prospect of Immortality . He is considered by some a pioneer transhumanist on the basis of his 1972 book Man into… …   Wikipedia

  • Felt Mountain — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Felt Mountain álbum de estudio de Goldfrapp Publicación septiembre de 2000 Grabación 1999 2000 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Robert Lowe, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke — PC (4 December 1811 – 27 July 1892), British and Australian statesman, was a pivotal but often forgotten figure who shaped British politics in the latter half of the 19th century. He is remembered for his work in education policy, his opposition… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Mardian — Robert Charles Mardian (October 23, 1923 – July 17, 2006) was a former United States Republican party official who served in the administration of Richard Nixon, but was embroiled in the Watergate scandal as one of the Watergate Seven who were… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”