Paul W. Foster

Paul W. Foster
Chairman of the Commission of Administration and Finance
In office
1942–1945
Preceded byAngier Goodwin
Succeeded byThomas H. Buckley
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 5th Berkshire district
In office
1937–1942
Personal details
Born(1893-04-19)April 19, 1893
Wakefield, Massachusetts
DiedDecember 11, 1952(1952-12-11) (aged 59)
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Political partyRepublican
OccupationNewspaper publisher

Paul W. Foster (April 19, 1893 – December 11, 1952) was an American newspaper publisher and government official who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and chairman of the state Commission of Administration and Finance.

Early life

Foster was born on April 19, 1893, in Wakefield, Massachusetts. He graduated from Searles High School in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.[1]

Publishing

Foster was the son of newspaper owner and publisher Maitland P. Foster.[2] He began his career with his father's paper, the Littleton Courier. In 1911, he joined the staff of another of his father's papers, the Berkshire Courier.[3] The Fosters also published the Berkshire Gleaner until 1942, when the paper was shut down for financial reasons.[2]

Government

Foster held a number of public offices in Great Barrington. He was a member of the town's finance committee, board of assessors, board of selectmen and was the town tax collector. From 1937 to 1942, he represented the 5th Berkshire district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[1] In 1942, he was appointed chairman of the state Commission of Administration and Finance by Governor Leverett Saltonstall.[4] He was replaced by Saltonstall's successor, Maurice J. Tobin, in 1945.[5]

Later life

After leaving state office, Foster was the executive director of the Berkshire Hills Conference. He died on December 11, 1952, in Great Barrington.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Public Officials of Massachusetts. Boston Review. 1941.
  2. ^ a b "Berkshire Gleaner to Go". The New York Times. April 24, 1942.
  3. ^ a b "Paul W. Foster: Retired Publisher, State, Civic Official". The Boston Globe. December 12, 1958.
  4. ^ "Beacon Hill Notes". The Boston Globe. May 22, 1942.
  5. ^ "Buckley and Tompkins Are Confirmed by Executive Council". The Boston Globe. August 9, 1945.