Frank Street Jr. facts for kids

Frank Street Jr. (born in 1943) is an American chess player. He is well-known for winning the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1965. He was also an important figure for black chess players in the Washington D.C. area.

Frank Street Jr. was a member of the Takoma Park Chess Club. This club had other famous players like Larry Kaufman. In the 1960s, Frank Street Jr., along with National Masters Walter Harris and Ken Clayton, helped open doors for black chess players in the Washington D.C. area.

Becoming a Chess Master

Frank Street Jr. became a USCF Master in 1965. This was the same year he won the U.S. Amateur Championship. For many years after that, he had the highest rating among African-American chess players.

He also won the club championship at the Washington Chess Divan. This was a top chess club. Frank Street Jr. was the second African American chess player to earn the National Master title. Walter Harris was the first. Frank Street Jr.'s picture was even on the cover of Chess Life magazine in July 1965.

Life and Career

Frank Street Jr. studied mathematics at University of California, Los Angeles. He also studied engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. He had a long career working in the space and satellite industry. He worked at NASA from 1974 until 2008.