Chester L. Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chester L. Washington
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Washington in 1924
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Chester Lloyd Washington Jr.
April 13, 1902 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | August 31, 1983 (aged 81) Culver City, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Journalist, writer, newspaper publisher |
Chester Lloyd Washington Jr. (born April 13, 1902 – died August 31, 1983) was an important American journalist, newspaper publisher, and editor. He owned a company called Central News-Wave Publications. At one point, this company published more than twelve different newspapers! He helped share news and stories, especially within the African-American community.
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About Chester L. Washington
Chester Washington was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on April 13, 1902. He was the second child and oldest son in his family. His father, Chester Lloyd Washington Sr., delivered mail. His mother, Bessie Willis, took care of their home.
Early Career in Journalism
Chester Washington started his newspaper career in the 1920s. He worked in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He began as a stenographer, which means he took notes quickly. He also worked as a journalist, writing stories for newspapers.
Later, he became the sports editor for a well-known newspaper called the Pittsburgh Courier. This was a big role where he managed all the sports news.
Working in Los Angeles
In 1955, Chester Washington made history. He became the first African-American news employee at the Los Angeles Mirror-News. This was a very important step for diversity in journalism.
When that newspaper closed in 1962, he moved to the Los Angeles Sentinel. This was the biggest weekly newspaper owned by Black people in Los Angeles. He quickly became the editor in charge there.
Becoming a Newspaper Publisher
Just four years later, Chester Washington started his own publishing business. He bought two weekly newspapers in Los Angeles: the Central News and the Southwest News.
Over the next few years, he bought many more newspapers. He combined them all to create Central News-Wave Publications. This company grew to publish 13 different newspapers! This showed his great skill in business and journalism.
A Special Honor
On March 18, 1982, Chester Washington received a special honor. Kenneth Hahn, a supervisor for Los Angeles County, named a golf course after him. This course is called the Chester L. Washington Golf Course.
It is located in West Athens, near Los Angeles. This golf course was one of the first public courses in Los Angeles where Black people were allowed to play. Naming it after Washington was a way to remember his contributions.
Chester Washington passed away on August 31, 1983. He was 81 years old. He is buried at the Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Carson, California.
