Douglas Eads Foster
Encyclopedia
Douglas Eads Foster was a Los Angeles, California, dentist who served on the City Council of that city between 1927 and 1929.
, the son of James Foster and Agnes Eads, his father dying when he was just three years old. He went to public schools in Warrensburg, then to Missouri State Teachers College and Washington School of Dentistry
in St. Louis, Missouri. He took postgraduate work at the University of Southern California
.
In 1898 Foster volunteered for hospital service in the Spanish-American War
and afterward helped in setting up the United States Dental Corps, being commissioned as one of the first dental surgeons in the U.S. Army in 1902. He served in that capacity until moving to Los Angeles the same year, where he practiced dentistry until he retired in 1924. After leaving the City Council in 1929 he worked in real estate.
Foster was married first to Alice C. Stepper in 1897 in Springfield, Kentucky, by whom he had three children, Martha, Douglas Jr. and Jane. He married Margaret O. Montgomery in an Episcopal
ceremony on September 2, 1927, with Los Angeles City Council Member Arthur Alber
as best man.
He died on July 22, 1962, in his home at 421 S. Bixel Street, leaving his widow, Margaret O., a son, Douglas F. Foster; a daughter, Jane Foster Morris; and a sister, Mrs. Frank W. Taggart. Although in 1927 he was a member of the Wilshire Boulevard Christian Church, his funeral service was a requiem mass at the Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Los Angeles.
Foster was elected to the City Council in the 12th District
over Clarence W. Horn in 1927 to represent the 12th District
but was defeated for reelection in 1929 by Thomas W. Williams.
A Republican, he opposed giving the city a monopoly on electrical power generation and distribution "on the grounds that private industry is entitled to share in such business." He was active in promoting the completion of the Third Street Tunnel.
His term was marked by his rivalry with Dr. George Parrish, head of the city's Health Department, whom Foster accused of stepping outside his assigned powers in enforcing health standards on handlers of food and in assigning nurses to work with a private insurance company. At one council meeting Foster said that the "asserted regularities in the administration of the health department constitute malfeasance in office," over which charge Parrish threatened to bring a libel action. Later Foster was branded an "obstructionist" in the matter of requiring food handlers, even small grocers, to be medically examined. The two men traded charges also about the use of city staff and automobiles in conducting political campaigns.
Foster began a campaign against smoking by children when he proposed that "the sale of tobacco, cigarettes, cigarette papers and wrappers be prohibited within two blocks of any public school." A smoker himself, Foster later withdrew his suggestion because of concerns that it would be held illegal under the state constitution.
Biography
Foster was born August 21, 1875, in Warrensburg, MissouriWarrensburg, Missouri
Warrensburg is a city in Johnson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 16,340 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Johnson County. The Warrensburg Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Johnson County. It is home to the University of Central Missouri.-History:Warrensburg...
, the son of James Foster and Agnes Eads, his father dying when he was just three years old. He went to public schools in Warrensburg, then to Missouri State Teachers College and Washington School of Dentistry
Washington University School of Dental Medicine
Washington University School of Dental Medicine was the Dental School of Washington University in St. Louis that operated from 1866-1991. Over 5,000 dentists were educated at WUSDM. Conceived several years before the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, WUSDM was pioneer in the practice of...
in St. Louis, Missouri. He took postgraduate work at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
In 1898 Foster volunteered for hospital service in the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
and afterward helped in setting up the United States Dental Corps, being commissioned as one of the first dental surgeons in the U.S. Army in 1902. He served in that capacity until moving to Los Angeles the same year, where he practiced dentistry until he retired in 1924. After leaving the City Council in 1929 he worked in real estate.
Foster was married first to Alice C. Stepper in 1897 in Springfield, Kentucky, by whom he had three children, Martha, Douglas Jr. and Jane. He married Margaret O. Montgomery in an Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
ceremony on September 2, 1927, with Los Angeles City Council Member Arthur Alber
Arthur Alber
Arhur Alber was an attorney and a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1927 to 1929.-Biography:Alber was born September 16, 1892, in Birmingham, Alabama. His parents were Hermann Alber, a native of Germany, and Mary Wing of Cape Cod, Massachusetts...
as best man.
He died on July 22, 1962, in his home at 421 S. Bixel Street, leaving his widow, Margaret O., a son, Douglas F. Foster; a daughter, Jane Foster Morris; and a sister, Mrs. Frank W. Taggart. Although in 1927 he was a member of the Wilshire Boulevard Christian Church, his funeral service was a requiem mass at the Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Los Angeles.
City Council
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1927, 1929Foster was elected to the City Council in the 12th District
Los Angeles City Council District 12
Los Angeles City Council District 12 is one of the 15 districts of the Los Angeles City Council. It encompasses the far northwestern section of the city in the San Fernando Valley. Mitchell Englander is the current officeholder....
over Clarence W. Horn in 1927 to represent the 12th District
Los Angeles City Council District 12
Los Angeles City Council District 12 is one of the 15 districts of the Los Angeles City Council. It encompasses the far northwestern section of the city in the San Fernando Valley. Mitchell Englander is the current officeholder....
but was defeated for reelection in 1929 by Thomas W. Williams.
A Republican, he opposed giving the city a monopoly on electrical power generation and distribution "on the grounds that private industry is entitled to share in such business." He was active in promoting the completion of the Third Street Tunnel.
His term was marked by his rivalry with Dr. George Parrish, head of the city's Health Department, whom Foster accused of stepping outside his assigned powers in enforcing health standards on handlers of food and in assigning nurses to work with a private insurance company. At one council meeting Foster said that the "asserted regularities in the administration of the health department constitute malfeasance in office," over which charge Parrish threatened to bring a libel action. Later Foster was branded an "obstructionist" in the matter of requiring food handlers, even small grocers, to be medically examined. The two men traded charges also about the use of city staff and automobiles in conducting political campaigns.
Foster began a campaign against smoking by children when he proposed that "the sale of tobacco, cigarettes, cigarette papers and wrappers be prohibited within two blocks of any public school." A smoker himself, Foster later withdrew his suggestion because of concerns that it would be held illegal under the state constitution.