The Development of Foster City

Foster City, California, is a thriving, successful new town of over 30,000 people, built on the shores of San Francisco Bay. It is unique in several ways: it was planned and built from scratch over the mud flats of the Bay and every bit of it is on fill. This is the story of that development, by T. Jack Foster, Jr. who, with his father and brothers, acquired four square miles of land and caused it to be transformed into that new town.

T. Jack Foster, Jr. Biography Foster City, California, is a thriving, successful new town of over 30,000 people, built on the shores of San Francisco Bay. It is unique in several ways: it was planned and built from scratch over the mud flats of the Bay and every bit of it is on fill. It is headquarters city for well known companies (Gilead Pharmaceuticals, and Visa, Inc. to name two) It has the tallest building between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Having incorporated in 1971, it is in its 40th year. This is the story of that development, by T. Jack Foster, Jr. who, with his father and brothers, acquired four square miles of land and caused it to be transformed into that new town. Born in 1928 in Norman, Oklahoma, Foster was the eldest son of T. Jack Foster and Gladys Hutchins Foster. Two brothers would follow: John R. (Bob) and Richard (Dick) They all attended public school in Norman, including high school. After high school, they all entered the University of Oklahoma which is located in Norman. Upon graduation in 1951, T. Jack Foster, Jr. entered the air force, having earned a commission in the ROTC program. He served for two years then moved to Hawaii where he entered the development business, working for his Dad's partner. In 1955, he joined the newly formed company consisting of his Dad and two brothers. He was in charge of the Hawaii operation which developed over 1500 lots and houses. The 25 story Foster Tower was started in Waikiki, finished by his brother, Dick, when he moved to California to join his father and brother, Bob, in the construction of Foster City. In 1954, he married Patricia Chesnut, originally from Miami, Oklahoma. They have three children, daughter Lee, and son, T. Jack Foster III, both born in Hawaii. Son, Mark, was born in California.