LaDoris J. Foster, 71, Johnson Publishing Company Vice President

Jet, May 9, 2005

LaDoris J. Foster, vice president/director of human resources at Johnson Publishing Company (JPC) in Chicago, recently died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. She was 71.

The cause of death was heart failure, said her brother, Frank Foster.

A 47-year JPC veteran, Ms. Foster was one of the company's most loyal and dedicated executives. With her profound professionalism, compelling charm and wit, she connected well with employees. She was a no-nonsense professional who was committed to excellence and demanded that all of the employees she recruited and hired met JPC's high standards.

Johnson Publishing Company Publisher and Chairman John H. Johnson said: "LaDoris Foster was a valued member of our staff for 47 years. She was the consummate professional who cared deeply about her work and our company employees. My wife, Mrs. Eunice W. Johnson, our daughter, Johnson Publishing Company President and CEO Linda Johnson Rice, and I have not only lost one of our top executives, we have lost a dear friend who was like a member of our family. She will be missed greatly."

Ms. Foster joined the Johnson Publishing Company in the fall of 1957 as an executive secretary. She later became administrative assistant in the JPC Executive Department. In 1971, she was named the personnel director of JPC and in 1976 she was promoted to vice president/director of human resources.

Her responsibilities included recruiting/interviewing/testing job applicants, coordinating staff programs, communicating and administering personnel policies, investigating grievances or complaints, counseling employees and documenting and preparing required government reports. Ms. Foster also served as the benefits coordinator and supervisor of the HR staff.

Born in St. Louis on October 31, 1933, her family moved to St. Paul, MN, in 1943.

She attended Webster Elementary School in St. Paul and graduated a year early from John Marshall High School and attended Rassmusen Business School in St. Paul.

She was employed at the State of Minnesota Taxation Department for five years before she joined JPC.

In addition to her brother Frank, she is survived by sister-in-law, Kathleen Foster, and a host of other relatives and family friends.

Memorial services were held at Unity Funeral Parlors Inc. in Chicago. Memorial services were scheduled at Spielman Mortuary in St. Paul at JET press time.