Paul W. Foster

Paul W. Foster (April 19, 1893 – December 11, 1952) was an American newspaper publisher and government official who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and chairman of the state Commission of Administration and Finance.

Early life
Foster was born on April 19, 1893, in Wakefield, Massachusetts. He graduated from Searles High School in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

Publishing
Foster was the son of newspaper owner and publisher Maitland P. Foster. He began his career with his father's paper, the Littleton Courier. In 1911 he joined the staff of another of his father's papers, the Berkshire Courier. The Fosters also published the Berkshire Gleaner until 1942, when the paper was shut down for financial reasons.

Government
Foster held a number of public offices in Great Barrington. He was a member of the town's finance committee, board of assessors, board of selectmen and was the town tax collector. From 1937 to 1942 he represented the 5th Berkshire district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1942 he was appointed chairman of the state Commission of Administration and Finance by Governor Leverett Saltonstall. He was replaced by Saltonstall's successor, Maurice J. Tobin, in 1945.

Later life
After leaving state office, Foster was the executive director of the Berkshire Hills Conference. He died on December 11, 1952, in Great Barrington.