Richard Foster (Alaska politician)

Richard Foster
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 39th district
(23rd district 1989–1993,
38th district 1993–2003)
In office
January 9, 1989 – October 13, 2009
Preceded byHenry Springer
Succeeded byNeal Foster
Personal details
Born(1946-08-09)August 9, 1946
Nome, Alaska
DiedOctober 13, 2009(2009-10-13) (aged 63)
Seattle, Washington
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCathy
ChildrenNeal, Jimmy, Myria, Justin, Tiffany, Richard, Nathan, Ramsey, Chandler
(born between 1972 and 1989)
Residence(s)Nome, Alaska
Alma materUniversity of Alaska
OccupationAir taxi operator

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.

  1. ^ Per Social Security Death Index search on Rootsweb. Retrieved November 12, 2010
  2. ^ "Longtime Nome legislator Richard Foster dies in Seattle". Anchorage Daily News. 2009-10-14. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29.