It is with an extremely heavy heart that I inform you that our beloved Dr. William P. Foster, former Director of Bands of Florida A&M University, has passed away.
I had just visited him Thursday at the hospital (it was his 91st birthday), and he was looking better than he did the previous day I had seen him. Little did I know that seeing him give me a downbeat while in the hospital would be the last time I'd be laying eyes on him.
Dr. Foster, you were loved, revered, and held in very high esteem to not only your family and people who served under you, but your colleagues and other music professionals around the world!
While we're currently in North Carolina preparing to perform this evening, know that we will be performing without you being with us gives us an even greater reason to go out and put together the performance of our lives!
Please keep the Foster family, the "100" family, the FAMU family, and all that loved him and have great memories of him, in your prayers. He's in a much better place now, and is now with wife Ann, looking down upon us, wishing us well, like only he can do.
Doc, I love you, and I thank you for taking me all over the world, exposing me to cultures and cities that this 18-year old boy from Tallahassee, Florida would have never experienced by himself. Your memories and words of wisdom and encouragement will last with me forever.
Victor R. Gaines
Fall '84, Trumpet
FAMU Head Drum Major '91
President & Chair, Board of Directors
Marching 100 Alumni Band Association, Inc.