Bill Foster named 2009 Springfieldian

Bill Foster, managing member of Foster Hospitality Group, was honored Friday with the 2009 Springfieldian award. The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce presented the award at its 2009 annual meeting.

Foster founded Foster Hospitality Group in 1996 but is a veteran entrepreneur, with a resume; that includes nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, real estate sales, and home building and renovation.

He opened his first business, Foster's Help Yourself Laundry on North Broadway Street, in 1949 at the age of 22, before getting into the elderly care business six years later by buying a house on Irving Street and converting it to a rest home.

Since then, Foster has built and operated more than 20 long-term care companies; Foster Hospitality Group operates five assisted-living and residential-care facilities in Missouri and Arkansas. The rest of the family has joined Foster in his current business, including his wife and five children.

He is also a generous contributor to the community, having offered monetary gifts or community board service to groups in higher education, health and wellness, the arts, business, and children's services.

Long-time friend and colleague Sam Hamra, owner of Wendy's of Missouri, honored his friend at the presentation.

"He likes to help other people. He always has, even when he had minimal means - he would give to help other people if they were in need," Hamra said in a chamber press release.

Foster follows now-retired Springfield-Greene County Library Director Annie Busch as the recipient of the Springfieldian award, which began in 1957.[[In-content Ad]]