Interview with Samuel Foster, Sr. - OH 599

Interviewer

Rebecca Masters

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Abstract

This interview was conducted for the as part of the Winthrop History Project spearheaded by Winthrop President Emeritus Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio and Rebecca Masters to “document the 24-year path of the original Winthrop College to becoming Winthrop University.” This effort was to produce a history of the institution and Dr. DiGiorgio’s tenure as president as a supplement to Dr. Ross Webb’s history of Winthrop (The Torch is Passed) that covered Winthrop history up to Dr. DiGiorgio becoming president. A key aspect of the project was a series of audio-taped interviews conducted with various members of the extended Winthrop community who participated in or helped guide the advancement of Winthrop over these years. That way, the Winthrop story will be told in an array of participants’ own words, own voices and from their own perspectives.

This interview is with Samuel Rufus Foster, Sr. (b. 1938) who was a member of the Winthrop Board of Trustees. Mr. Foster was a Chester, SC native but has lived in Rock Hill, since 1958. He worked in public education before serving in the South Carolina General Assembly from 1980-1992. He also served on the South Carolina Employment Commission. Mr. Foster served as principal of Fairfield and Sunset Park Elementary before being appointed principal of the segregated Emmett Scott High School in 1968 where he oversaw the closing of Emmett Scott as Rock Hill Schools became fully integrated. He then became the first principal of Northwestern High School in 1971. For all his work as a “Local Hero”, Mr. Foster was recognized by the Rock Hill Freedom Walkway as an inductee in 2021. In this interview, Mr. Foster focuses on his involvement with the Winthrop Board of Trustees and his working relationship with Winthrop President, Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio.

Publication Date

4-15-2015

Unique Identifier

OH 599

Format

MP3;

Length

01:00:02

Restrictions

This interview is open for use.

Series

Anthony DiGiorgio

Disciplines

Law

Interview with Samuel Foster, Sr. - OH 599

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