As the USBA began its 2024 National Championship in Modesto, California, word leaked that Frank Torres, four-time national champion, had died after a brief illness. He had planned to play the 2024 tournament but withdrew on its eve. Frank was a true gentleman, with a sly smile and a soft voice. At the table, he was a fierce competitor with a steady stroke and a keen eye.
Born 1945 in San Antonio, Texas and named Francisco, Torres was known to everyone in the billiards world as Frank. More recently, as his hair turned grey then silver, he was affectionately called, The Silver Fox. Soon after his birth, his family moved to Mexico City. At the age of 14, he picked up a cue at the Club de Los Intelectuales and began his life at the table. In his early 20s, he moved back to the United States and eventually settled in a suburb of Las Vegas.
