William "Bill" Lamar Foster

He was born on September 5, 1938, the only child of the late Eugene L. Foster and Eleanor E. Foster. Bill was a native Atlantan and a proud member of the “Buckhead Boys.” He attended the University of Georgia and graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree. While at the University of Georgia he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and held several Delta Chapter Offices including President, Vice President, Secretary and Pledge Trainer. As an alumnus he served as advisor to the undergraduate chapter of Sigma Chi. He also served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Athens Alumni Chapter and was Secretary of the Delta Chapter House Corporation. Bill was recognized in 1972 with the National President’s Citation for Service to the Fraternity. Also while at the University, he was a member of Sigma Delta Chi Professional Journalism Society, serving two terms as president, a member of Di Gamma Kappa Broadcasting Fraternity, and a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council. He was also selected to Blue Key Honor Society and was named 1965 Most Outstanding Male Graduate of the Journalism School.

Bill’s employment history includes service to the Georgia Department of Public Safety where he established the first Public Information Office for the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In 1969 he moved to Athens, GA where he served as Law Enforcement Planner for the Northeast Georgia Area Planning and Development Commission. He later became Public Affairs Director for Athens-Clarke County when the City of Athens and Clarke County governments merged in 1991. He retired in 1997 and following the deaths of his parents moved to their home on Lake Lanier in Cumming, Georgia in 2014. Bill always supported the University of Georgia (especially the football team) and will always be remembered as a DGD (DAMN GOOD DAWG!).

He is survived by First Cousins Dr. Judy Long (Susan Steffey) of Cumming, Cheryl (Bobby) Dickens of Roswell, and Debbi (Doug) Gentile of Cumming, and other cousins.

A graveside memorial service will be held at a later date at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Bill’s name to Delta Chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity, 112 Foundry Street, Athens, Georgia 30601.