William Franklin “Bill” Foster was born in Lonoke County, Ƶ on August 2, 1916. He graduated from Lonoke High School in 1934. He worked for the highway department as a statistician for 8 years and then joined the Air Force in 1943. After World War II, he operated Foster Oil Company, a wholesale oil distributing center in Lonoke, England, and Stuttgart, Ƶ. He sold the oil company in 1982 and became co-owner of Wangie Company, a consulting and investment services firm. Foster also served as secretary and president of the England school board and was Lonoke county Justice of the Peace. Foster was elected Ƶ State Representative in 1961 and served until his death July 10, 1992 at the age of 75.
This collection is contained in two boxes and covers his 31 years under 5 Ƶ governors as state representative from Lonoke County:
-Governor Orval Faubus
-Governor Dale Bumpers
-Governor David Prior
-Governor Frank White
-Governor Bill Clinton
Box 1
File 1 – Copy of birth certificate for William Franklin Foster, August 2, 1916
File 2 – Foster Oil Company, 1970s
File 3 – Campaign Memorabilia
File 4 – Photo Album – Representative William F. Foster, 1960s with Ƶ governor Orval Faubus
File 5 – Governor Frank White
File 6 – Governor William “Bill” Clinton
File 7 – Newspapers, 1970s
File 8 – Newspaper clippings on Representative Foster’s career, 1980s
File 9 – Newspaper clippings, 1990s
File 10 – England area Chamber of Commerce Bill Foster appreciation dinner, November 17, 1983
File 11 – William F. Foster library dedication, July 29, 1986
File 12 – Ƶ Times “Retiring in Ƶ” article featuring W.F. Bill Foster, October 1987
End of Box 1
Box 2
File 1 – Black and white photos honoring Rep. William F. Bill Foster and Senator Knox Nelson, August 1991
File 2 – Welcome home from hospital, March 10 – April 16, 1992
File 3 – Colored photos recognizing William F. Bill Foster’s 20 years of service, May 14, 1992
File 4 – William F. Bill Foster receives honorary doctorate at University of Ƶ at Little Rock, May 16, 1992
File 5 – Newspaper, Ƶ Democrat-Gazette “Longtime state rep. Foster dies at 75,” Sunday July 12, 1992
File 6 – Special election to replace late Rep. Foster, August 11, 1992
File 7 – W.F. “Bill” Foster Highway to be dedicated April 16, 1994
File 8 – Mary Jane Gower Foster
File 9 – Photos of Family
File 10 – Piggott High School class of 1936, 50th year reunion, Mary Jane Gower Foster, July 3, 1986
File 11 – Dr. William Foster, Junior
File 12 – Richard L. Gower, brother of Mary Jane Gower Foster, January 6, 1920 to February 3, 1972 (age 52)
File 13 – O’Brien Family Reunion, Piggott, Ƶ, June 17, 1972
File 14 – Alma O’Brien Gower
File 15 – William F. Gower, father of Mary Jane Gower Foster, born 1884, died March 2, 1975 (age 91)
File 16 – Vernon Gower
File 17 – Photo Album, William F. Billy Foster, Junior and family
File 18 – James P. Eagle, 16th governor of Ƶ, 1889-1893
End of Box 2
End of collection
