I was previously editor of Texas Knights for the Texas Chess Association (TCA) from 2014 to 2018, then again from 2022 to 2024. I also took on and continue to hold the Assistant Editor post of The Chess Correspondent for the Correspondence Chess League of America (CCLA). As of 1/1/2026 I am President of CCLA. I also have held the Editor post for Check is in the Mail for US Chess since 3Q 2024 which recently moved from a bi-monthly publication to monthly.

Before my chess editing activities (and even during some of them) I was a software developer for 40 years, holding a variety of positions during that time primarily focused on Microsoft Windows software development starting with C programming, followed by C++ and eventually primarily using C# for most development tasks. After retiring in late 2020, my initial focus was on creating a cross-platform mobile app (using C#/Xamarin) and it was successfully published on both the Google Play Store and the Apple Store.

Other hobbies include drumming (have played since I was 7, paid for a lot of my college playing gigs on Friday and Saturday nights in both Country and Rock bands and even occasionally played in a Polka band (I’d literally play any genre to make a buck!). While I do still pick up a pair sticks and sit at my electronic drum set … it’s not for anyone but myself. While I did recently tryout for a band and was successful in obtaining the post… my body just couldn’t handle it at the level required any more … and after just 3 weeks of practice, it took months to overcome the pain from strains that occurred.

I also enjoy tinkering with IoT boards (Arduino, Meadow, etc.) and 3d Printing.

jkfrench_tx