<BillNo> <Sponsor>
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 238
By Massey
SJR0238
005401
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A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Edward Bruce Foster,
Jr., of Knoxville.
WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly were greatly saddened to learn of
the passing of Edward Bruce Foster, Jr.; and
WHEREAS, a highly regarded business attorney and community leader, Bruce Foster
was known for his self-effacing nature and skill at building consensus; and
WHEREAS, born on May 1, 1936, in Knoxville, Mr. Foster was encouraged by his father,
who was also a successful Knoxville attorney, to finish his education quickly; taking up the
challenge, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1957 and a
law degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1958 at the age of twenty-two; and
WHEREAS, following law school, Mr. Foster received a commission as a first lieutenant
in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, serving on active duty in France from 1959
to 1963, during the time that the Berlin Wall was being built; and
WHEREAS, while in Europe, he rarely missed the opportunity to ski the Alps or tour the
backroads of France; after his discharge at the rank of captain, Bruce Foster returned to
Knoxville as an associate at the law firm of Frantz, McConnell & Seymour and soon rose to
partner as a trial attorney serving the legal needs of corporate clients; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, Mr. Foster joined the firm of Bass, Berry, and Sims, which was
opening its first Knoxville office; and
WHEREAS, among his many achievements, Bruce Foster was a lifelong member of the
Tennessee Bar Association, served as president of the Knoxville Bar Association, was a
member of the Tennessee State Constitutional Convention of 1977, and served as a Special
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Justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court during Governor Lamar Alexander's administration;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Foster had been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1987 and
served on numerous boards, including the Greater Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, the Public
Building Authority, and the Central YMCA and United Way of Greater Knoxville, where he also
served as general counsel; he was also a member of the commission that formed the Knoxville
Central Business Improvement District in 1993, with the aim to create a vibrant, flourishing
downtown; and
WHEREAS, as a young man, Bruce Foster relished the competitive atmosphere of the
courtroom, but late in his career, he re-trained in mediation, at which he also excelled; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Foster retired in 2016 at the age of eighty, bidding farewell to his last
remaining client, the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, which he had estimably served for
thirty years; and
WHEREAS, personal relationships and his faith meant a great deal to him, as did a
sense of duty and responsibility toward his family and community; Bruce Foster was known to
be generous with his time and encouraging to others, whether other lawyers in his firm or those
he worked with at his church or in the community; and
WHEREAS, for more than thirty years, Mr. Foster hosted a covenant group from Second
Presbyterian Church at his home for breakfast, study, and prayer; a lifelong member of "2
nd
Pres," Bruce Foster was elected deacon and ruling elder, delivered groceries for the FISH
Pantry, and trained and served as a Stephen Minister; and
WHEREAS, left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of fifty-five years, Betsy;
children, Bailey Foster (Marcia Tobin) and Benjamin Foster (Emiko Kunita); sister and brother-
in-law, Lee and Bill Monroe; niece, Meg Stone; and four grandchildren, Henry, Maggie, Kaya,
and Sho; and
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WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his mother and father, Mary Evelyn and
Edward Bruce Foster; sister and brother-in-law, Lyn and Gary Scales; niece, Mary Katherine
Stone; and many friends; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Foster leaves behind an indelible legacy of integrity and probity in
public life, compassion and loyalty in private life, and diligence and dedication in all his chosen
endeavors; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should pause to
remember the bountiful life of this exceptional public servant and human being; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we honor the memory of Edward Bruce Foster, Jr.,
reflecting fondly upon his impeccable character, his extraordinary contributions to the people of
Tennessee, and his stalwart commitment to living the examined life with courage and
conviction.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we express our sympathy and offer our condolences
to the family of Mr. Foster.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
without House or Senate designation.