the late Arkansas Rep. William F. “Bill” Foster Sr.
The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Archives recently received the papers of the late Arkansas Rep. William F. “Bill” Foster Sr., of England and Keo, Arkansas. His son, Dr. William F. “Bill” Foster, Jr. donated his father’s papers to UCA.
Jimmy Bryant, director of the UCA Archives, said that the Foster collection contained a large number of professional photographs showing Foster with his constituents and other elected officials; a large number of newspaper articles about Foster’s career and many family photographs. Bryant said the Foster collection was a “true treasure trove” of photographs of Arkansas officials from the 1960s to the 1980s.
The late Foster served in the Arkansas House of Representatives for 32 years. His first year in the House was 1961, and he continued to serve until just a few weeks before he died on July 10, 1992. Foster represented the people of Lonoke County.
Foster, a veteran of World War II, served in the Army Air Forces from 1943 until he was discharged in 1945. For several decades, Foster owned and operated Foster Oil Company of England. He was also involved in many state and local organizations including membership in the Arkansas State Capitol Association, England Chamber of Commerce, Lonoke Chamber of Commerce and the Lonoke County Task Force for Abused and Neglected Children.
He worked to improve the lives of the elderly, served for 19 years as the Chairman of the House Aging and Legislative Affairs Committee. According to his son, he had a deep concern for older Arkansans and the problems they faced. Foster was instrumental in establishing the Silver Haired Legislature. According to the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Aging and Adult Services website, “The Arkansas Silver Haired Legislative Session (SHLS) was authorized by a concurrent resolution sponsored by Rep. B. G. Hendrix and the late Rep. W. F. “Bill” Foster in the 1977 Arkansas General Assembly.”
Foster served before term limits were put into effect, and after 32 years in the House he was sixth in seniority out of 100 House members.
Bryant expressed his gratitude to Dr. Foster for donating his father’s papers to the UCA Archives.
