Frank Street Jr. facts for kids

Frank Street Jr. (born 1943) was an African-American chess player who won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1965. He was a member of the Takoma Park Chess Club, a club featuring notable members such as Larry Kaufman and Larry Guilden. In the 1960s, Street Jr was seen as a pioneer for black chess players in the Washington DC area, along with National Masters Walter Harris and Ken Clayton.

Street became a USCF Master in 1965. He initially received recognition by winning the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1965, and for many years thereafter held the highest rating among African-American players. He also defeated Ken Clayton and won the club championship at the Washington Chess Divan, a premier chess club. Street was the second African American chess player to earn the National Master title after Harris. His picture was on the cover of the July 1965 issue of Chess Life magazine.