Marcus Foster

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Marcus A. Foster (1923 – 1973) was a charismatic and highly esteemed African-American educator who gained a national reputation for educational excellence while serving as principal of Gratz High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as Associate Superintendent of Schools in Philadelphia, and as the first black Superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District in Oakland, California.

Foster was murdered in 1973 by members of the Symbionese Liberation Army. The SLA claimed they killed Foster because of his alleged support of a plan to create a student identification card system in Oakland that proponents claimed would help keep non-student drug-dealers off campus. In reality, Foster had opposed the identification cards and had worked to water down the plan. The SLA also objected to police officers in the schools, but again they were mistaken as to Foster's position; Foster had stated that he would not allow police officers in the schools. Foster was shot eight times with bullets that had been dipped in cyanide. His deputy, Robert Blackburn, was also shot, but survived. Joseph Remiro and Russ Little were sentenced to life in prison for their role in the attack. Little was later released on appeal.^[1]

Before his death, Foster had received the highly prestigious award for the person who had done the most for Philadelphia. After his death, various sites were named in his honor, including the athletic fields at Gratz High School, the Student Union building at Cheyney University, and the Marcus Foster Recreation Center in Philadelphia featured in the movie "Pride." The School District of Philadelphia established the Marcus A. Foster Award, which is given annually to a School District administrator for noteworthy contributions in curriculum, instruction, school improvement or administration.^[2]

The Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute was founded by and later renamed in honor of Foster. In conjunction with Oakland-area business, the Institute awards 60 yearly scholarships ranging from $1000 to $2000 to Oakland high school students. Over 1,500 students have received these scholarships. The institute also regularly awards up to $2000 to Oakland public schools teachers who develop innovative educational projects.^[3]

Foster is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. He is survived by his widow, Albertine Ramseur Foster, and his daughter, Rev. Marsha Foster Boyd, PhD, President of Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, Michigan.[1]