Jeff Smeltzer, born November 27, 1944, in Taylors, South Carolina, is a distinguished figure in South Carolina’s chess community, celebrated for his competitive achievements and leadership in promoting the game. A lifelong South Carolinian until his later years, Smeltzer’s contributions were marked by his success as a player and his roles in the Greenville Chess Club and the South Carolina Chess Association (SCCA).

Smeltzer began playing chess in 1963, advancing to a peak USCF rating of 2165. His competitive highlights include multiple South Carolina State Championship titles: he shared the co-champion title in 1973 at the Wade Hampton Hotel in Columbia, November 16–18, and again in 1975 at Recreation Center No. 2, Fort Jackson, Columbia, October 31–November 2.  Smeltzer was sole champion in 1981 at the SC Championship held at the Siebels-Bruce Building, Columbia from September 25–27. Additionally, he achieved a notable second-place finish in the 1976 U.S. Amateur Tournament in Atlanta, demonstrating his strength on a national stage. Beyond the board, Smeltzer gave simultaneous exhibitions, including events on February 7, 1974, and October 17, 1990, at Haywood Mall in Greenville. He delivered lectures at local libraries and played a key role in introducing players like Klaus Pohl to the Greenville Chess Club, fostering the growth of the local chess community.

A graduate of Greenville High School and Furman University, Smeltzer pursued a career as a mechanical drafter, working with J.E. Sirrine Co. and later Daniel Engineering Co. in Greenville, where he utilized computer-aided design. He served as President of the Greenville Chess Club and as Vice President of the SCCA from 1975 to 1976, significantly contributing to the development of chess in the region.

Smeltzer remained in Greenville through at least the early 1990s before relocating to North Carolina and later settling in Gorham, Maine. His legacy as a champion and ambassador for chess continues to inspire South Carolina’s chess community.