Age, Biography and Wiki

Mike Foster (American politician) (Murphy James Foster Jr.) was born on 11 July, 1930 in Franklin, Louisiana, U.S., is an American politician (1930–2020). Discover Mike Foster (American politician)'s Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 90 years old?

Popular As Murphy James Foster Jr.
Occupation N/A
Age 90 years old
Zodiac Sign Cancer
Born 11 July 1930
Birthday 11 July
Birthplace Franklin, Louisiana, U.S.
Date of death 4 October, 2020
Died Place Franklin, Louisiana, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 11 July. He is a member of famous politician with the age 90 years old group.

Mike Foster (American politician) Height, Weight & Measurements

At 90 years old, Mike Foster (American politician) height not available right now. We will update Mike Foster (American politician)'s Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Mike Foster (American politician)'s Wife?

His wife is Alice Foster

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Alice Foster
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

Mike Foster (American politician) Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Mike Foster (American politician) worth at the age of 90 years old? Mike Foster (American politician)’s income source is mostly from being a successful politician. He is from United States. We have estimated Mike Foster (American politician)'s net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income politician

Mike Foster (American politician) Social Network

Instagram
Linkedin
Twitter
Facebook
Wikipedia
Imdb

Timeline

1892

His father, also named Murphy James Foster, was an area sugar planter and owner of oil and natural gas lands, whose own father was Murphy J. Foster Sr., who was Louisiana governor from 1892 to 1900 and a U.S. Senator from 1901 to 1913.

1898

As governor, Murphy Foster led the campaign to disenfranchise Black citizens through the Louisiana Constitution of 1898, calling for an end to "the leprous virus of negro suffrage, thereby creating a running sore which has ever since tainted our government, both federal and state, with foul corruption and loathsome disease."

1930

Murphy James Foster Jr. (July 11, 1930 – October 4, 2020) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 53rd governor of Louisiana from 1996 to 2004.

Murphy James Foster Jr. was born in Franklin, the seat of government of St. Mary Parish.

1942

As his executive counsel, Foster appointed the Democrat Cheney Joseph Jr. (1942–2015), a member of the LSU Law School faculty and a former district attorney for East Baton Rouge Parish.

Foster worked to re-organize the state's community college system by creating the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, and expanded the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS).

Foster instituted mandatory standardized testing for grade advancement in a move described by his administration as an effort to make public schools more accountable.

He made increasing teacher salaries a major priority, at one point promising to stop cashing his paychecks until teachers' salaries reached the Southern average.

Andy Kopplin served as Governor Foster's chief of staff.

1946

He became an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America in 1946 and was a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity (Zeta Zeta chapter) and The Friars.

He joined the Air Force and served in the Korean War.

By the time Mike Foster entered politics, he had already become a wealthy sugar planter and owner of a construction firm.

He resided at Oaklawn Manor, an antebellum plantation mansion in Franklin.

1952

Foster attended public high school in Franklin, graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, and Southern University Law Center with a Juris Doctor in 2004, the year he left the governorship.

1995

Foster entered the 1995 gubernatorial race as a minor candidate whom most local political observers discounted.

Then in September 1995, Foster announced he would qualify for the race as a Republican.

The Republicans had not coalesced on a candidate, and Foster's announcement that he was switching parties vaulted him from single digits in the polls to serious contention.

Foster rode a wave of popular dissatisfaction with the more unsavory aspects of the casino gambling that had been legalized under outgoing Governor Edwin W. Edwards.

Foster came out strongly against gambling and pledged to run Louisiana "like a business."

His conservative platform included attacks on welfare abuse, gun control, affirmative action, racial quotas, and political corruption.

He carried the endorsement of the columnist and former Republican presidential candidate Patrick J. Buchanan.

Foster edged out two more well-known candidates for a seat in the runoff with then-United States Representative Cleo Fields from Louisiana's 4th congressional district, a prominent black Democratic politician.

Future U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu ran third and missed the general election berth by just 8,983 votes (0.6 percent of the total votes cast).

Former Governor Buddy Roemer, seeking a gubernatorial comeback, came in fourth place.

Foster's embrace of the Republican label and his conservative platform undercut Roemer, another Democrat-turned-Republican.

Foster defeated black Democratic candidates in both of his campaigns for governor—Cleo Fields in 1995 and Congressman William Jefferson of Louisiana's 2nd congressional district in 1999.

He defeated Jefferson in a landslide, avoiding a runoff with 64 percent of the vote.

1996

Reminiscent of his grandfather's inauguration virtually a century earlier, Mike Foster's inauguration ceremony on January 8, 1996, occurred at the Old State Capitol.

Always a man of few words, Foster remarked briefly about the historicity of the occasion and made cordial statements about outgoing four-term Governor Edwin Edwards, who was present.

1997

In 1997, Foster named former state budget director Ralph Perlman as secretary of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, a position that Perlman held for five years while in his eighties.

Despite having run on an anti-gambling platform, in office Foster became a quiet supporter of the gambling industry.

2000

His second inauguration took place on January 10, 2000.

Foster was widely seen as having favored business to a greater degree than had previous governors.

He retained the secretary of economic development, former legislator Kevin P. Reilly Sr. of Baton Rouge, the former CEO of Lamar Advertising Company of Baton Rouge.

He ended state affirmative action and set-aside programs, which earned him the support of the business community but prompted protests from civil rights groups.

Foster also targeted tort reform and ended the practice by which trial lawyers could seek punitive damages from businesses.

Foster had close relations with the statewide pro-business lobbying group Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) for most of his tenure, though there were short-lived tensions in 2000 over Foster's attempt to raise business taxes in an effort to secure funding for higher education.

By the end of his second term, Foster was receiving criticism for his reluctance to take business trips in order to attract businesses and jobs to Louisiana, and for enrolling in part-time law school classes while still in office.

He also appointed then 24-year-old Bobby Jindal, later a two-term Republican governor, as head of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.