:Frank Washington

{{short description|American basketball player}}

Frank Washington (4 April 1921 - 24 January 2013){{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/record/529588878-frank-washington|title=Frank Washington|publisher=Fold3|accessdate=April 3, 2020}} was an American basketball player. He was born and raised in Germantown and graduated from Germantown High School.

Washington was a 6'4" guard from Wilberforce, Ohio.{{cite web|url=http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/harlem-globetrotters-all-time-roster|title=The All-Time Roster of the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters|work=harlemglobetrotters.com|accessdate=8 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208045155/http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/harlem-globetrotters-all-time-roster|archive-date=8 December 2012|url-status=dead}} Before joining the US Navy, he played one season for the New York Rens from 1941 to 1942 .{{cite web|url=http://www.phillytrib.com/sports/baseball/legendary-hoops-player-frank-washington-honored/article_07f41444-f04d-5ed1-bcf5-07403bdeebd7.html|title=Legendary hoops player Frank Washington honored|work=The Philadelphia Tribune|accessdate=8 April 2015}}

In 1945, he played for the Washington Bears. Washington was part of the first Harlem Globetrotters team to travel around the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/harlem-globetrotter-legend/big-frank-washington|title=Harlem Globetrotter Legend "Big" Frank Washington|work=harlemglobetrotters.com|accessdate=8 April 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402153455/http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/harlem-globetrotter-legend/big-frank-washington|archivedate=2 April 2015}} Washington was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters from 1946 to 1960.{{cite web|url=http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/about/legends|title=Harlem Globetrotters/Legends/ "BIG" FRANK WASHINGTON|access-date=2018-09-16 }}

After his basketball career, he joined Pepsi-Cola, working in advertising, then sales, and rising to the position of community relations manager.{{cite web|url=http://www.philasun.com/week-in-review/obituary-big-frank-washington-harlem-globetrotters-star-dead-at-91|title=Obituary:’Big Frank’ Washington, Harlem Globetrotters star, dead at 91 |date=2013-02-03|newspaper=The Philadelphia Sunday Sun|access-date=2018-09-16}}

His daughter Michelle Washington was also a basketball player. Washington died on 24 Jan 2013 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital at the age of 91.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesherald.com/general-news/20140524/the-memory-of-norristown-basketball-standout-michele-washington-remains-vivid-for-all-that-knew-her|title=The memory of Norristown basketball standout Michele Washington remains vivid for all that knew her|work=timesherald.com|accessdate=8 April 2015}}