9.3.10 BY Candace Riley

The legacy of the man behind the marching 100 was celebrated September 3rd by those who knew him.

Memorial services for Dr. William Foster were held at the Al Lawson Multi-Purpose Center on Florida A&M's campus.

Joe Bullard hosted the celebration full of family, friends, former band members, and other organizations.

Folks reminisced on the memories they had with Foster and his contribution to FAMU.

Former '74-'78 band member Willie Hayward says, "This was a man that incorporated the things not just for he band, but he made breakthroughs and gave us opportunities as young black men to succeed in life"

And Kenneth "TC" Harris, who was drum major from '76-'78 says,"The motto that Dr. Foster set for us as young men, trying to emulate the character that he was trying to instill in us was about perfection, character, academic attainment and musicianship."

Funeral services for Dr. Foster will be held September 4th at Lee Hall Auditorium at 11am.
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9.3.2010 BY Julie Montanaro

Doctor William Foster's face is looming large on the scoreboard. People have been stopping by the Lawson Center on FAMU's campus all day to say farewell to the maestro.

Doctor William Foster brought Rattler fans and music lovers to their feet for more than 50 years, and Friday he brought them to their feet again as hundreds filed by his casket - a casket covered with orange roses -for a last goodbye.

"I thought it would be robbery if I did not come to pay my respects for such a world-wide well known man," said FAMU employee Carolyn Elkins. She remembers watching Foster and the band at football games when she was just eight years old.

Young and old paused by the casket, each with his or her own memories of the man.

Curtis Inabinett, who played saxophone with the Marching 100 back in the 1970's, came all the way from South Carolina to attend Friday's memorial service. "I wouldn't miss it," he said, "it's an honor."

Foster founded the Marching 100 and created a style and sound that has taken his beloved Marching 100 across the globe from the Super Bowl to the French Bicentennial to President Obama's inauguration.

It's a marching band known for its impeccable movements and music.

"The excitement, the music, the legacy is there," said Marching 100 alum Anthony Luckey.

"This is the man who started something that, you know, we love so much and connected so many people," said Marching 100 alum Deanne Davis. "I met my husband in the Marching 100 and those are the types of bonds that were created because of his vision."

Foster died last week at the age of 91. He'll be buried in shades of cream and gold, wearing white gloves, baton still in hand.

"The impact he had on people is something I cherish, so it's not a moment of sadness, it's a moment of joy," said Dr. Foster's son, Anthony Foster.

"The impact that he had on many of his students that have gone on to achieve great success in life is something he was most proud of," Foster said.

Foster's marching band rivals are also among his biggest fans.
The head of the Tennessee State's marching band, Edward Graves, called Foster's "musical arms far reaching," with many of his students going on to direct high school and college marching bands all over the country.

The head of Bethune Cookman's Marching Wildcats, Donovan Wells, called Foster "a giant in the field of marching bands and music education."

And John Newson at Howard University perhaps said it best when he said' When the Marching 100 and the Showtime Marching Band meet at halftime it's more important than the game."

Foster's funeral is set for tomorrow, Saturday September 4th, at 11am at Lee Hall. The Department of Music is expected to perform a tribute concert starting at 10am.