Mrs. Doris Brooks Foster established the William K. Foster Scholarship in 1999 as an expression of her love for an outstanding Christian husband and father, she chose to honor her beloved husband with a lasting gift that will benefit others in preparation for future opportunities. The scholarships are awarded to Christian students who are training for a church-related vocation. Grand Canyon University was chosen because of the institution’s strong Christian commitment to the same Lord that William K. Foster served.
William Kirk Foster was born in 1920 in Statesville, North Carolina, to Presbyterian minister William C.C. Foster and Marjorie Foster. His first career was with the United States Army Air Corp (later known as the Air Force). Because of his bravery while flying the P-47 during World War II, he was awarded the distinguished Flying Cross. Returning from Europe in 1945, he married Doris Brooks. Their marriage lasted for fifty-four years and produced two devoted daughters, Laura and Janie; and grandson William Kirk II.
One of the highlights of his military career was the part he played in the integration of new radar equipment into the Air Defense System and the plans he helped develop that were used to reconfigure the nation’s Air Defense System in use upon his retirement.
After twenty-two years in the Air Force, he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He then launched a second career in Business Administration. He earned a degree in Personnel Administration from the University of California while in the military. During the first five years after returning from the Air Force, he earned an MBA from Arizona State University and was appointed Manager of the State Compensation Fund of Arizona (“SCF”). He held that position for nine years. SCF employed approximately five hundred people and was a state agency highly competitive with private enterprise in the Workman’s Compensation insurance field.
A natural leader with great organizational skills, a fine analytical mind and deep integrity, he knew the secret of delegating authority. The high point of his civilian career was his success in developing a program of departmental objectives that resulted in steadily increasing returns of dividends to policy-holders, which was accomplished in part by wise investments of invested reserves.
An earnest, frugal, patient and humble man, his sharp and perceptive mind could quickly lighten the darkness of problems. The intensity of his quest for a bigger and better agency never obliterated his concern for people. One person wrote he is “The Man Who Makes Things Happen.”
Receiving many awards during his civilian days, he was honored to be elected Vice President and President respectively of the Association of State Compensation Funds. This organization embodied membership in seventeen states, most provinces of Canada, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico while he was President.
Bill was a highly principled man of strong Christian faith.
