Historian Rayford Logan (1897-1982), in the Dictionary of American Negro Biography, edited with Michael Winston, cited highlights of the life's work of Luther H. Foster, Sr. Several excerpts follow:
Along with serving as college administrator from 1913 until his death in 1949, Luther Hilton Foster, Sr., was a pioneer in educational financial planning and management. He applied much of his attention and expertise to assisting Negro higher educational institutions improve their business operations from 1929 to 1949 as a consultant for the General Education Board and the Julius Rosenwald Fund.
It was Foster's work at Virginia State College- where he served as treasurer and business manager (1913-1943), as acting president (1943-1944), and as president from 1944 until his death- that brought him wide acclaim as an astute administrator and financial "wizard". Those who knew and were associated with him at Virginia State characterized Foster as a "person of high integrity and demanding standards, whose passion for work set an outstanding example for faculty and staff as well as students of the college."
When Foster became associated with Virginia State College in 1913 it was a normal school without accreditation. During his 36-year tenure- with extended leaves of absence to pursue further study at the University of Chicago- Virginia State strengthened and expanded its program to offer Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Science degrees, and received full accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For thirty years as treasurer and business manager of the College, Foster had responsibility for all financial operations, including planning for capital additions, preparation and justification of operating and capital expenditures to state officials and other agencies from which funds were secured.
While Foster was at Virginia State:
the plant grew from $285,000 to $5 million in value
the endowment fund increased from zero to $173,000
the operating budget expanded from $36,000 to $1.4 million
the annual income from public funds increased from $16,500 to $635,000.
At the time of Foster's death in 1949 the college had a resident enrollment of 1,500 students and the junior college division which was established in Norfolk in 1944 enrolled 800 students. In addition, the college offered a number of services to adults in the state through home study and extension courses, workshops, and special institutes.
Foster decided to remain at Virginia State College, despite offers to take positions at other institutions including:
Howard University
Hampton Institute
Tuskegee Institute
Kentucky State College.
less