Roll Call Tribute

James Robert "Jim" Foster, FAIA 

January 4, 1944 - January 17, 2025 

An obituary is typically about the deceased, not composed by same, but so many of my positive experiences and accomplishments has been derived from others that I supposed I could write it best myself.

I was born in southeast Texas to Robert L. “Bob” Foster and Harietta “Hattie” Mayo Foster. After WWII my family resided in Saratoga and Navasota, Texas. I spent my junior high and high school years in Bryan, Texas, graduating from Stephen F. Austin H.S. in 1962. Until spring 1962, I didn’t realize architecture would be my path, but I always knew I would be a Texas Aggie since other options were unaffordable.

Always and forever has been my wife of 56 years, Jane Roby Foster, the one who completed me. It’s a beautiful thing to have a family who love each other. My family life has been defined by my late sister, Judy Foster Blomgren, my brother, William Lee Foster of Danbury, Texas; my brothers-in-law William H. Choice of Houston and John W. Roby, III and wife, Amy Hartman of San Antonio. A plethora of fine nieces, nephews, and cousins round out my family relations, but I must also include my Aggie Best Bud for Life, Jim Singleton, IV, JSM4.

My college years formed lasting friendships and exposed me to inspirational mentors, still cherished long after their passing. After receiving a Bachelor and Master of Architecture, I joined the A&M College of Architecture as Assistant Dean, with pleasant duties which included undergraduate student counseling.

In 1972 I joined Marmon Mok, a major San Antonio architectural firm, soon becoming partner, focusing on higher education, research laboratories, airport facilities, and master planning. I took on leadership roles in my profession including President, Texas Society of Architects and Regional Director on the American Institute of Architects Board, and I was elected to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows, becoming James R. Foster, FAIA.

Jane and I loved San Antonio for two decades and then found natural beauty and a four-season climate in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas. While we built our farmstead, my practice career continued , building public libraries in Fayetteville and Bentonville and on the campus of the University of Arkansas serving as Architect-of-Record on the UA Garland Avenue Center with parking, retail storefront and bookstore.

As a volunteer, I advocated for the vitality of downtown Fayetteville and serving community through the Rotary Club of Fayetteville. In 2009, Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture honored me among its Outstanding Alumni, a tribute for which I credited my mentors, colleagues, and friends. If mentees also learned from me, my reward was seeing them soar.

My retirement years were a gentle continuum of our hilltop existence stewarding our wildlife habitat and refuge, sustainable gardening, and the rebirthing of a 1967 Airstream for occasional adventures, as well as a never-ending project list. I am lucky! I am living long, long married in love, and even have a few friends who tolerate me.

Ashes will be placed in our family cemetery in the heart of the Big Thicket, Saratoga, TX. Donations can be made to the Friends of the Museum of Hardin County, PO Box 2304, Kountze, TX 77625, to Friends of the West Fork Public Library, 198 Main Street, West Fork, AR 72774, and the Texas A&M College of Architecture Foundation, Coke Building 207, College Station, TX 77843-3137, or online.

Cheers!