In Memoriam: LAFCU Board President Harold Foster
Foster, the GM “Union Godfather,” dies on Feb. 24 after serving the Michigan credit union for 37 years.
Harold F. Foster, longtime board member and president for the $986 million, Lansing, Mich.-based LAFCU, passed away on Feb. 24.
“Harold Foster served LAFCU as its board president for 37 years and was instrumental in so much of our credit union’s history,” LAFCU CEO Patrick Spyke stated. “He made a profound impact on the lives of so many with his servant leadership, dedication and guidance. Harold was the epitome of all that is good – someone who tirelessly advocated for what was right and positively influenced all around him. We are grateful to Harold’s wife, Sherry, and sons, Jeremy and Jody, for sharing him with us, his LAFCU family.”
Foster, who was born in Georgia and grew up in Lansing, became LAFCU’s board president in 1985, nearly two decades after graduating from J.W. Sexton High School and marrying his high school sweetheart, Sherry Smyth. He began working on the production line at General Motors in 1968 and later became a benefit representative for the auto manufacturing company, where he was known as the “Union Godfather,” according to an obituary posted to McGeehan Funeral Home’s website.
During his tenure as board president, Foster championed diversity, equity and inclusion at LAFCU by appointing an African American female interim CEO with his board nearly 20 years ago, and establishing a chief diversity officer position in 2020. In addition, he organized a popular golf outing with LAFCU and the Lansing Labor News (a local publication of which he formerly served as editor and business manager), which raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Greater Lansing Food Bank. He was also a supporter of LAFCU’s partnership with the Lansing Lugnuts baseball team and its sponsorship of the post-game LAFCU Fireworks show.
What’s more, Foster played a key role in the “Save GM” campaign in the 1990s, which resulted in the preservation of General Motors’ plants and presence in Lansing, and served as past president of the General Motors Credit Council. He stepped down as LAFCU’s board president in 2022 and continued to serve as a board member until his death.
LAFCU increased its assets from $50 million to $973 million, gained ownership of several CUSOs and completed three mergers during Foster’s time as leader of the board.
“Harold was a pillar in the community and within LAFCU,” LAFCU Board President Randy Freeman stated. “He always embodied the credit union philosophy of ‘not for profit, but for service.’ I’m incredibly grateful to Harold for his mentorship, which has made us all better people and professionals.”
According to the obituary, Foster passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family following complications from heart surgery, and was 74 years old. A funeral service will be held Friday, March 3 at 11 a.m. at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel in St. Johns, Mich. In lieu of flowers, Foster’s family has requested memorial contributions be made to the Greater Lansing Food Bank.