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William F. Ryan (1907–1954), nicknamed The Bronx Comet, was an American checkers player who won national titles in both 1939 and 1946. He counted Sam Gonotsky as a mentor and friend. He was known as the champion of "blindfold checkers" and wrote several books on the game. He also worked on a draughts magazine and once played against musician Benny Goodman. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1954.