Luther H. Foster Jr.

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ser Amantio di Nicolao (talk | contribs) at 13:42, 24 September 2018 (add authority control, test). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Luther H. Foster Jr.
President of
Tuskegee University
In office
1953–1981
Preceded byFrederick D. Patterson
Succeeded byBenjamin F. Payton
Personal details
Bornc. 1913
Lawrenceville, Virginia, U.S.
DiedNovember 29, 1994
East Point, Georgia, U.S.
SpouseVera Chandler
Children2
Residence(s)Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Alma materVirginia State University
Hampton University
Harvard Business School
University of Chicago

Luther H. Foster Jr. (c. 1913 - November 29, 1994) was an African-American academic administrator. He served as the fourth president of the Tuskegee Institute, a private, historically black university in Tuskegee, Alabama now known as Tuskegee University, from 1953 to 1981.

Early life

Foster was born circa 1913 in Lawrenceville, Virginia.[1][2] His father worked for Saint Paul's College, a historically black college.[2] He grew up between Lawrenceville and Petersburg.[2]

Foster graduated from Virginia State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1932, followed by a second bachelor's degree from Hampton University in 1934.[2] He earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1936, followed by a master's degree and a PhD from the University of Chicago in 1941 and 1951 respectively.[2]

Career

Foster began his career at Howard University, where he worked as a budget officer from 1937 to 1941.[1] Foster joined the Tuskegee Institute, now known as Tuskegee University, in 1941, where he worked as a business manager until 1953.[1][3] He served as its fourth president from 1953 to 1981, which included the Civil Rights era.[1] Under his leadership, enrollment grew from 2,000 to 3,500.[2]

Foster served as the president of the United Negro College Fund and the Academy for Educational Development.[4] He also served on the board of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and Sears.[1]

Foster was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor. In 1958, he was awarded the Star of Africa from Liberia.[5]

Personal life and death

Foster married Vera Chandler. They had two children.[1] He resided in Alexandria, Virginia.[2]

Foster died of a heart attack on November 29, 1994 in East Point, Georgia, at 81.[4][1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Luther Foster Dies". The Washington Post. December 1, 1994. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Elliott, J. Michael (December 2, 1994). "Luther Foster Jr., 81, Dies; Leader of Tuskegee Institute". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Foster Named Tuskegee Head". Asheville Citizen-Times. May 31, 1953. p. 24. Retrieved June 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |registration= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b "Luther H. Foster Jr.; Former Head of Tuskegee University". The Los Angeles Times. December 5, 1994. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  5. ^ "Dr. Luther Hilton Foster, Jr". Tuskegee University. Retrieved June 20, 2018.



Flag of United StatesBiography icon

This biography of an American academic administrator is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Luther_H._Foster_Jr.&oldid=860996090"