Keystone Checkers Trust 

The Pennsylvania State Open was held in the State College (Penn. State Univ.) area at Traveler's Lodge & Restaurant in earlier years because of the generous donations by Daniel G. Frank.  Mr. Frank was a gracious host to all checker players who attended these annual tournaments at his Hotel & Restaurant (Motor Inn) and he supported this tournament for years.  He left $10,000 in a trust at Peoples National Bank of State College, PA as the "Dan Frank Trust" so the income would be used to provide a biennial bid to attract the Pennsylvania State Checker Association to hold it's annual tourney in the State College area.  Whenever the tourney is held in the State College area the bid can then be used for the prize fund.  In the event that the State College area is outbid for the biennial tournament, the interest shall be added to the principal of the trust.  Daniel Grimnison Frank, born in 9/15/1907 and died 10/18/1966 at age 59.  The trust was opened by the executor of Frank's estate in accordance with his wishes as outlined by his will.  The 2003 PA Ty was the last year it was held in State College.  Since then organizers have moved it to Western PA in Grove City.  Tony Kozenski, PA Ty Director / D3 Manager and a Pennsylvania Checker Association officer was the bank's contact.  Interest would be withdraw from the Dan Frank Trust Fund and allocated toward the PA tournament.  When the principal begin to dwindle over the past 10 years Tony Kozenski brought his concerns to Don Deweber who took the initiative to call the bank for an explanation.  They explained the trust was small and unprofitable and Omega was actually charging 1/2 their minimum fees since the account couldn't bear the full fees allowable. Omega Bank would rather be released from the fiduciary responsibility. Omega Bank would not release the trust to an individual or just a name as Pennsylvania Checker Association which Mr. Rayback an attorney with Omega Bank's legal department stated and explained their liability as a trustee.  He researched and found no EIN, registration, no records, or successful business history, nothing supporting Pennsylvania Checker Association as a legal identity.  They ask Deweber who could take over the trust and suggested how to do it; therefore, in 2005 the trust fund was closed out by court order and moved to the Trust Department of US Bank, Dubuque, IA in Don Deweber's care. The John Caldwell-Irving Windt Library of Checkers, Inc. satisfied Omega's demand for a financially viable identity, a non-profit corporation entity, as being established in 1980 with a flawless business and tax history.  This process took over a year.  Mr. Raybeck was legal counsel and Don Deweber worked with the bank to petition the old trust, create a new trust with wording to exclude the central Pennsylvania tournament location stipulation. Don was also registered as one of the two trustees of the new Keystone Checkers Trust Fund.  Don was prudent in his effort to reduce the principal erosion from bank service charges, fiduciary tax preparation, and filing fees by having the Centre County Court order the trust ownership to The John Caldwell-Irving Windt Library of Checkers Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, with an IRS "determination letter," a letter of approval as a tax exempt organization.  Don has the interest withdrawn annually and transferred to Dr. Richard Beckwith so he can make the contribution to the PA Tournament.  2008 Notes:  |  Keystone Trust changed as “Restated Revocable Trust”

2011 Tournament Dates     |   2011 PA Results  |  Keystone Trust changed as "Restated Revocable Trust"