Tom and Steve Wright captured the scene well, weekly meet-ups at Randy's house to play chess while we were students at Shawnee Mission North.  I've thought often of Randy over the years.  He was a caring and thoughtful friend and the deepest thinker at the chess board that I've ever known.  My condolences to his family.

I was fortunate to know Randy's parents and visit his home a number of times with others on the SMN chess team.  Randy inspired me to major in math and to this day he is only person I know who could play blindfold chess.  After Randy left for KU and I went to Wichita State, I never saw him again but often wondered about the life he led.  I'd like to hear from the family, if possible.  Randy was an inspiration to me although I could never match his math or chess skills.  He loved classical music.  I am very sad to hear of his loss.  My condolences to the family.  The world has lost a true genius and gentle soul.

Our sympathies to the family. Thinking of you all in your time of loss.
Danelle Drury Bavel and Ari Bavel

    I remember Randy very well. I would like to say that I "played"  chess with Randy but the truth is that he played with me (and countless others) like a cat plays with a mouse before eating it. I remember with a lingering pang of terror his particular announcement of "check mate" leaving another victim behind.  We rode the same bus from this side of Fairway (he was in Mission Hills) and later when we started to drive was part of our car pool. I can honestly say that I don't remember meeting anyone as intelligent as Randy in my life, but of course I am comparing old memories against 45+ years of life since high school.

Strange, I was just thinking about Randy a few days ago, wondering how he was doing.  We used to date in high school and continued to do so a few times during the holidays those first years of college.  I have always been saddened by the way that life turned out for him, because he was the one person who could keep up with (and surpass) me in all of our odd endeavors.  We always laughed a lot.  I remember the last time I saw him.  We had been to a movie and were sitting on the floor in my parent's home trying to figure out a new card game.  He was wearing sandals and had long blond hair of which my parents disapproved.  I will  miss his presence in this world, but I am thankful that he has been a part of my life.

I haven't seen Randy in almost 45 years, but what I most clearly picture, and will always remember and miss, is his way of twisting a curl of hair about his finger as he thought about a chess move, or a telling comment during a conversation.

I was three years younger than Randy, and so I was not his peer in school, but I shared his love of math and science and music, and above all, chess as I trailed him through the Shawnee Mission school system. I find it hard to put into words what he meant to me, both then, and for many years after I lost track of him, but certainly much of inspiration, rival, idol. A brilliant mind.

OBITUARY

Randy Mills

December 15, 1949 – January 18, 2014

McGilley State Line Chapel

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