George Foster was a backfield and
kicking sensation with the Ramblers in 1956. Ever
a threat to break the big run, Foster had numerous 50+
yard plays during the season. His biggest game
coming against the State Penn team where he rushed for 4
touchdowns and kicked 8 conversions for a total of 32
points. George was honored with the team's
Inspirational Award following the season.
Ramblers reported offensive stats:
vs Oregon College of Education Wolves
2 TD (1 yd/ 2 yds) 2 PAT
vs Linfield College Wildcats 1 TD
(71 yds) PAT
vs Washington State Penn Steelers 4 TD
(1 yd/38 yds/ 78 yds/86 yds) 8 PAT (222 yds rushing)
vs University of British Columbia
Thunderbirds 1 PAT
vs Humboldt State Lumberjacks 1 PAT
(103+ yards rushing)
1956 Seattle Ramblers Inspirational
Award (A gold watch from jeweler Frank Ursino.)
__________________________________________________
The following was sent to the GNFA authored by Rev. Dr.
LaVerne C. Williams Foster Hall:
George Floydale Foster, Jr.
Born November 24,1933, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Moved to Vancouver, Washington in the 1940's with an
aunt, Nellie Saunders. As this was during World War
II, Nellie and her husband, Henry came to Vancouver
to work in the shipyards.
George was raised by his aunt and uncle and educated
in the Vancouver, Washington schools where he
excelled academically and athletically. His sports
were of course, football, track, baseball, boxing,
and some wrestling, lettering in each sport. Upon
high school graduation, George attended Easter
Washington University in Cheney, Washington. While
there, he as well excelled in athletics with his
major sport football.
He left school and moved to Seattle to work for a
year and joined friends and the Seattle Ramblers.
Going back and forth from Seattle to Vancouver to
Portland, Oregon, he met his future wife, LaVerne
Williams in Portland. He was unable to return to
Eastern Washington because he was drafted by the
United States Army. He did his basic training at
Fort Ord and was ordered to Korea (peace time) for
two years.
While in Korea, he joined special forces and boxed,
played baseball, and of course football. His sons
have an extensive scrapbook showcasing his high
school and United States Army experience.
Discharged from the Army during the fall of 1958, he
continued his relationship with LaVerne Williams.
They were married March 1, 1959 in Portland,
Oregon. He returned to Seattle that same year and
was employed as a King County deputy sheriff. Their
first child, George III was born November 18, 1959
in Portland, Oregon. Their second child, LaWayne
Charles was born May 25, 1961 in Portland, Oregon.
1960, LaVerne and the two children joined George in
Seattle. George was working for the Rotary Boys
Club and doing lots of community volunteer work. He
loved the Rotary Boys Club and introduced several
new sports to the young men; they had a full
academic and athletic program, including boxing,
golf, wrestling and of course, football.
He left the Rotary and went to work for City of
Seattle Parks and Recreation, at Garfield Recreation
Center, Seattle. Just prior to leaving the Rotary,
George became ill; doctors had a very difficult time
diagnosing his affliction. He was only able to work
at Garfield for a brief time, as his illness was
devastating his body and was finally identified as
ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The only thing the
doctors knew about this horrible affliction was that
it was terminal, very rare, and only one in every
100,000 people had to date been diagnosed with it.
It was a very fast and overtaking disease, causing
George to retire from the City of Seattle. The
doctors gave him six months to live; a young man in
his mid 20's, a wife and two babies, with a new home
mortgage and the blue 4-door Ford station wagon,
being told to get your papers in order, you have at
the most six months to live.
Prior to the onset of the illness, George was very
active in the community and had developed a
following of young people that is to be envied. He
was also very active in Young Life, a Christian
organization for young people.
The disease conjoined with his body and finally
decided that his very life fully belonged to ALS and
November 1966, he went to be with the Almighty
Lord. The One who saw to it on a daily basis for
the duration of the affliction that George was
always smiling, happy and in good spirits. He died
just one month shy of his 33rd birthday, the illness
being married to him for close to six years.
In addition to George and LaWayne, George fathered
three additional beautiful children, Rickey Penney,
Bunnie Anderson, and Adair Vannoy.
Today, 53 years after his passing, if he were
living, he would be very proud of his five
children. Not a one of his children were able to
spend quality time with their dad, but from various
articles, friends, his massive scrapbook and his
wife (now remarried and widowed) they love and miss
him very much.
Rev. Dr. LaVerne C. Williams Foster Hall
(wife to George from March 1, 1959 to November 1966)
The GNFA is grateful for this contribution to
the historical archive of one of the greatest people
and players to be a part of Northwest Football
History.
Thank you to the family of George
Foster.
George Foster - Eastern Washington University
