Douglas Hoylman

Douglas J. Hoylman was an American actuary and mathematician who calculated costs and risks for the insurance company Geico by trade while building a parallel reputation as one of the most dominant champions in competitive crossword solving. Known to fellow competitors as the Iceman for his calm and unflappable manner at the board, he won the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament six times between 1988 and 2000, more than any other solver in tournament history to that point. His sixth and final win came in 2000 at the age of 56, making him one of the oldest champions the tournament had ever crowned as well as its most decorated. Hoylman died at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on November 2, 2015, at the age of 72.