David Kirby Foster

David Kirby or “D.K.” Foster (1882-1969) was a prominent Baptist minister, influential community leader in Arkansas and Missouri, and a friend and counselor to President Harry S. Truman . After graduating from the seminary, Foster worked as both an educator and minister in Arkansas and Missouri. Foster eventually became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Caruthersville, Missouri, a position which he held for 27 years, and was an active supporter of the Democratic Party.

While he never ran for office himself, Foster had the reputation of being the Reverend of “1000 votes,” and many candidates for state office would seek his endorsement before making their runs. During Harry S. Truman’s 1934 run for the United States Senate, he was virtually unknown in southeast Missouri, and what was known concerned his negative associations with the Pendergast machine. After being rebuffed by local Democrats, he sought the assistance of Foster, who arranged for Truman to make a speech at the Pemiscot County courthouse in Caruthersville, Missouri. Truman made a very favorable impression during the speech, and Foster’s support was later credited with winning Truman the southeast Missouri vote and perhaps the entire election for the Senate.

Afterwards, Truman and Foster struck up a lifelong friendship, and Truman would visit Foster and his family during what would become yearly visits to Caruthersville. Correspondence between the two is maintained by the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri.

References

• Tedford, Leroy Carson. (1947). A History of the Current River Baptist Association. Poplar Bluff, Mo: General Baptist Pub. House.
• http://www.trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/fosterwh.htm

Persondata
Name	Foster, David Kirby
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Date of birth	1882
Place of birth
Date of death	1969
Place of death