William Franklin “Bill” Foster was born in Lonoke County, Arkansas 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, Arkansas. 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 – Arkansas Times “Retiring in Arkansas” 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 Arkansas at Little Rock, May 16, 1992
File 5 – Newspaper, Arkansas 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, Arkansas, 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 Arkansas, 1889-1893
End of Box 2
End of collection