Bill Foster recognized for OTC donation

Ozarks Technical Community College yesterday held a naming ceremony in honor of Bill Foster, who recently presented the OTC Foundation with three homes north of the college's Springfield campus. The gift is valued at roughly $300,000.

Foster is the founder of Foster Hospitality Group. His name now adorns OTC's Bill R. Foster Student Services facility, located in the Information Commons West building on the college's Springfield campus, according to a news release.

“As we continue to grow, support from people like Mr. Foster is more valuable than ever,” OTC Chancellor Hal Higdon said in the release. “The naming of Bill R. Foster Student Services will remind students for years to come of the support they have from people in their community.”

Along with Higdon and Foster, speakers at the ceremony included OTC Foundation Executive Director Cliff Davis, Board of Trustees President J. Howard Fisk and OTC Foundation Board President Neal Spencer.

The OTC student services facility isn't the only local building to take Foster's name recently. Missouri State University's recreation center, now under construction, will be named the Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center when it opens in March.

Foster made a significant monetary contribution for an undisclosed amount to the MSU Foundation for the $30 million, 100,000-square-foot center located near JQH Arena, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Foster, a multidecade Springfield businessman, community activist and entrepreneur, has built and operated more than 20 long-term care companies, including Foster Hospitality Group. Foster was named Springfieldian of the Year in 2009 by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and was named 2011 Philanthropist of the Year by the Ozarks Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.


[[In-content Ad]]