Dr. William P Foster

He was born on August 25, 1919 in Kansas City, Kansas and educated in the public schools of Kansas City, Kansas where he completed Sumner High School. He saved to purchase his first instrument, an alto saxophone at age 12, and later purchased a clarinet (his main instrument), a coronet and a cello as a Northeast Junior High School student. Dr. Foster studied at the Kansas City Conservatory, University of Kansas (BME 1941), Wayne State University (MA 1950) and Columbia University Teachers College (EdD 1955). He directed bands and choruses at Lincoln High School (Springfield, MO), Fort Valley State College (Fort Valley, GA), and Tuskegee Institute (Tuskegee, AL). Dr. William P. Foster was appointed Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Department of Music Chairman and Director of Bands in 1946 and created the internationally renowned FAMU Marching One Hundred Band with a 360 steps per minute marching cadence, memorized music, dance routines and field animation formations. He developed more than 200 half-time routines with numerous awards (Sudler Award) and invitations (Super Bowl III, two Inaugural Parades (Clinton), Bastille Day Parade (Paris, France), appeared in 3 films and television commercials for Fortune 500 corporations. He conducted the 114 piece FAMU Symphonic Band, the McDonald's All-American High School Band (1979-1998) and published many works including "Band Pageantry" (1968), which became the national standard for marching bands, and also authored "The Man Behind the Baton". Most recently he initiated the writings of "A Complete Autobiography of the Life and Career of Dr. William P. Foster." In addition, Dr. Foster published compositions including Marche Brillante and National Honors March. Foster was recently honored by the Tallahassee Chapter of The Links, Incorporated for his service and leadership as National Presidents of the American Bandmasters Association (1994) and the College Band Directors National Association (1977-1979). He retired from Florida A and M University in 1998 after fifty-two years of distinguished service with numerous awards, recognitions and tributes. Dr. Foster was a devoted member of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church for 51 years where he made many contributions to the church's music ministry. He married Mary Ann Foster on August 8, 1939 who faithfully departed this life on August 17, 2007. They both leave to mourn sons, Anthony F. Foster (Ninette Kaneza) and William P. Foster, Jr. (Patricia Louise); grandchildren David Arnold-Drayton Foster (Amelia Ruth), William P. Foster, III, Kimberle Katherine-Anne Wilson (Eric Allen) and Chesna Iman Foster; and great-grandchildren Courtney Louise Wilson, Evan Allen Wilson, Collin Patrick Wilson, Nathaniel Drayton Foster and Sabrina Shayndel Foster.

Public Visitation will be today, September 3, 2010, from noon to 6 p.m. EDT at the Lawson Center at FAMU. The Memorial Service will begin at 6 pm at the center. The body will lie in state Saturday, September 4, from 8 to 9:30 am at Lee Hall. The Public Concert, a tribute by the FAMU Department of Music, will be held Saturday from 10 to 10:50 am. The Funeral Services will be held Saturday at 11 am, with Interment at Culley's MeadowWood Memorial Park on Timberlane Road.

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.