That '70's Game  November 4, 1972  Henigan v Wetzler
(Another gem from the archives of Walt Ressmeyer. After Mark Henigan cleaned my clock in front of the Heritage Bookstore at the Battlefield Mall ( my age: 14 or 15), I later encountered him at the club at age 18 or 19 and was blown off the board again. Later, at SMSU, I took an English class taught by his father).  

​1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. a4 Nbc6 8. Nf3 Qc7 9.Bd3 Bd7 10. Ba3 c4 11. Be2 0-0-0 12. 0-0 f6 13. Qb1 Ng6 14. Bd6 Qa5 15. Qb5 Qxc3 16. Rfb1 Na5 17. Qc5 Nc6 18. a5 Nf4 19. Bd1 Ng6 20. Ra3 b6 21. axb6 axb6 22. Ra8 Kb7 23. Qxb6 Kxa8 24. Qb7 1-0

​Chess viewer link Copy and paste game into game viewer to play over the game.

America, basking in the aftermath of Bobby Fischer's recently winning the World Crown, chess was indeed "the fad" of the moment. Club's were swelling with new adherents nationwide. Springfield, too, got caught up in this chess fever, establishing its first organized city club. 
I remember clearly some of the members at the time. Keith Freeman with his grey beard, CPO jacket, Greek fisherman's cap, pipe in hand. He loved to move fast! My first impression of him was that he was some type of bohemian sailor from Nova Scotia or Nantucket, only removing his pipe to say "it's yer move". 
 If there exists a dictionary with a photograph of.... "typical archetype kindly grandfather" then Lawrence Bakewell's photo would surely appear right there! Soft-spoken and noncompetitive, Lawrence just enjoyed spending his Saturdays at the club leisurely playing skittles. Add to this list Summer Loomis, Donald Turner, Neal Moore representing the retired seniors.
Usually in attendance during our Saturday meetings: Lyle Jesse, an imposing yet jolly fellow. I believe he was a bus driver, if memory serves me correctly. Another regular fixture at the club, Bill Nakao, a quiet soul with his Japanese accent. One couldn't find a nicer fellow. It truly broke my heart to learn that he had passed on. 
Paul McMasters, along with Henry Wetzler, helped organize the club during those early years. Paul's association with the local newspaper helped promote our club. I have often wondered if Paul, and others from this era, know that the club they helped form still exists four decades after their initial efforts. But enough reminiscing, and on to the game.
 
In this game we have Mark Henigan getting the better of Dr. Henry Wetzler. Mark, an SMS student, had a little experience playing chess in his high school's club. Mark makes short work of Hank's Winawer/Nimzowitsch French, and I recall him being proud of this game at the time, as well he should have been. Mark *(following in the footsteps of Ruben Fine) is now Dr. Henigan and resides in California practicing psychiatry in the Bay Area. I hope to involve Mark in our web-site, as a fellow charter member, his recollections would be invaluable. Dr. Henigan also plays music professionally and tends to be one who excels in whatever endeavor he is pursuing. Mark was most certainly in the upper echelon of competitors during the 1970's. I have kept the notes by Wetzler intact, I do think the fatal mistake was not 000, but I shall name this game ....."A history on French castles, the long and short of it." Enjoy!

Number 15 Notes by H. Wetzler French Defense 1972
(click on score sheet to enlarge and read)