Chessmen Club | Chess Lessons & Club Evanston IL

About

A Legacy of Service Since 1958

Strengthening community through leadership, scholarship, and service.

Founded in 1958, the Chessmen Club of the North Shore has been dedicated to building bridges to better health, better education, and stronger communities. For decades, the organization has served Evanston and surrounding communities by investing in students, supporting families, and fostering leadership rooted in service.

From scholarship awards to community outreach programs, the Club continues to uphold its founding commitment: empowering the next generation while strengthening the present.

Our Mission in Action

Building bridges to opportunity and lasting impact.

Chessmen Club focuses its efforts in areas that directly uplift individuals and families across the North Shore. Through scholarship support, hunger relief initiatives, and community-centered programming, the organization creates meaningful pathways to advancement and stability.

College and vocational scholarships for local students

Holiday Food Basket Program supporting families in need

Social initiatives addressing health, hunger, and literacy

Community partnerships and service outreach

Long-term impact through the Chessmen Legacy Fund

Leadership Rooted in Community

Guided by service, driven by purpose.

Chessmen Club is led by dedicated members who share a commitment to service, mentorship, and civic engagement. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and continues to rely on community support, volunteer leadership, and strategic partnerships to fulfill its mission.

Through collaboration and accountability, the Club remains focused on expanding opportunities and sustaining its impact for generations to come.

Our Members

Dedicated leaders united by service, scholarship, and community impact.

The Chessmen Club was founded in 1958 by William (Bill) Logan and Andrew (Andy) Rodez to engage and provide services to the youth and Black community. Today the Chessmen Club is still thriving and carrying on that mission, with a membership that is dedicated to service and helping the community.

William (Bill) Logan

President Emeritus

Bill career has been dedicated to service, having served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, followed by joining the Evanston Police Departments where he served for 30 years. In 1960, Bill had the honor to be assigned as Dr. Martin Luther King’s bodyguards when Dr. King came to Evanston. Throughout Bill’s career he has won numerous awards, written several publications and has been an active member in various non-profit organizations such as, Evanston Community Foundation, Rotary of Evanston, Evanston Community Development Corporation, etc., and has and continues to sit on several boards.

Bill Logan is a founder of the Chessmen Club of the North Shore, Inc. Bill was born and raised in Evanston, attending Foster elementary, Haven middle school and Evanston Township High School (ETHS). While at Evanston he earned a football scholarship to Western Illinois University. Bill has been a pioneer his entire life being the 1st Black football player at ETHS, 1st Black Senior class Vice-President and 1st Black police Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief and Chief of Police in Evanston and a founding member of the Fellowship of African American Men (FAAM) youth basketball organization and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers (NOBLE).

Bill has a BA in Public Administration from Northeastern Illinois and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Police Management School at Northwestern University Traffic Institute, the Juvenile Officers Institute at the University of Minnesota, and the Police Community Relations School at Michigan State University.

Executive Board 2025

President: Reynold Martin
Vice President: Jabari Porter
Treasurer: Jermaine Nesbitt
Secretary: Dr. Keith Robinson
Social Programs: Bryant Wallace

Emeritus Members

Dudley Brown
Robert Reece

Members

Peter Braithwaite
Carl Hampton
Benny Jones
Dr. Gilo Kwiesi Logan
Douglas Lytle
Thomas Obaseki
Brent Nance
Scott Rochelle
Marcel Sallis
Darryl Smith
Andrew Stroh
Markham Thomas
Dr. Alvin Tillery

In Memoria

Co-Founder: William Bill Logan
Co-Founder: Andy Rodez
George Dotson