Richard Foster | |
State House: | Alaska |
State: | Alaska |
District: | 39th |
Term Start: | January 9, 1989 |
Term End: | October 13, 2009 |
Prior Term: | (23rd district 1989–1993, 38th district 1993–2003) |
Predecessor: | Henry Springer |
Successor: | Neal Foster |
Party: | Democratic |
Birth Date: | 9 August 1946 |
Birth Place: | Nome, Alaska |
Death Place: | Seattle, Washington |
Alma Mater: | University of Alaska |
Occupation: | Air taxi operator |
Spouse: | Cathy |
Children: | Neal, Jimmy, Myria, Justin, Tiffany, Richard, Nathan, Ramsey, Chandler (born between 1972 and 1989) |
Residence: | Nome, Alaska |
Neal Richard Foster[1] (August 9, 1946 - October 13, 2009) was a Democratic member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing various districts centered on Nome, Alaska from 1989 until his death. Though a Democrat, he frequently caucused with the Republicans and served for a period of time as the Majority Whip.
He died of a heart attack while receiving treatment for kidney disease.[2] His oldest son, Neal Foster, was appointed to replace him, and was elected to his own term in 2010.
At the time of his death, he was the second longest-serving member in the history of the Alaska House, behind Carl Moses, who also represented western Alaska (Max Gruenberg surpassed his tenure in October 2015). He was also a second-generation member of the Alaska Legislature; his father, Neal W. "Willie" Foster (1916-1979), served one term apiece in the Alaska Senate representing Nome before and following statehood.