Lee Andrew Foster was an Iowa native, born in Athens Township, Ringgold County, in 1884. In 1905 entered railroading as a telegrapher and agent with Illinois Central Railway. He worked for other railroads such as Union Pacific and OSL. In 1916 he was an agent for the OSL RR Co.in Rigby, Idaho. He was a member of the Order of   Railroad Telegraphers. While in Idaho, he studied accounting through a correspondence school. In 1919 Mr. Foster was an accountant at the First National Bank in Rigby; then in 1921 he became the cashier at the Anderson Brothers Bank also in Rigby, Idaho. In 1922 or 1923 he became employed by the Los Angeles Steamship Co. In March of 1925 General Manager William L. White offered Mr. Foster a position in the accounting department of the Yosemite Valley Railroad Company. The job was to pay $175.00 per month. Lee Foster joined the YVRR within a month of the offer. It must have been a busy time for the accounting department because the YVRR was very heavy involved in transportation of goods for the construction of Exchequer dam and the relocation of a segment of the railroad itself. Over the next several years Mr. Foster continued in the accounting and became the railroads auditor. The years after 1929 must have been a concern to the employees of the railroad because of the great depression and the railroad going into receivership the last day of 1935. Upon Mr. Whites decision to leave for the Central California Traction Company, Howard Bonsell, the principal trustee, selected Lee Foster as the new general manager of the now Yosemite Valley Railway. On July 1, 1943 Lee Foster became the fifth general manager of the railroad with a whopping salary of $350.00 per month.

In December 1943 Mr. Foster was elected to the "Operating Committee" of the American Short Line Railroad Association. It was upon Lee Foster that all the problems of the past, the war, and lack of business manifest. Howard Bonsell, was not a railroad man, but a realestate developer; it is assumed that he wanted to a quick return and did not allow Mr. Foster the time or money to turn the YVRy around. Passenger business was down far below the early years, but the public was asked not to travel during the war years. Also, the Yosemite Portland Cement company was sold to the Kaiser people and the plant at Merced was to be removed to South America. It might also be added that the "business men" in Merced were not helpful in keeping the YVRy a local enterprise. Lee Foster had to endure the problems of abandonment hearings and all the headaches of a failing (murdered) corporation. The YVRy was in liquidation by the end of September 1945. By no means can he be blamed for failure of the railroad. He retired in 1946. Mr. Foster lived on his 53 acre farm at the end of Bradshaw Road, near the former Castle Air Force Base. At the time he and family lived there the air field was known as Merced Army Flying School. Lee Foster died July 7, 1968 in El Cajon, California. He was buried at La Vista Memorial Park, near San Diego, California. Thanks to Don Foster, son of Mr. Lee Foster, he has been very helpful with some details by sharing copies of his fathers papers. He not only shared information contained on this page but with photographs etc.

Photograph courtesy of Donald Foster - son of L.A.Foster Secretary W. C. Hopkinson, General Manager L. A. Foster, & Assist. Auditor W. C. Veyl West side of Yosemite Valley RR Depot - 1944 Letter courtesy of Donald Foster - son of L.A.Foster Announcement of Mr. Fosters promotion to General Manager Letter courtesy of Donald Foster - son of L.A.Foster Letter announcing appointment of Mr. Lee Foster to the American Short Line Railroad Association's Operating Committee - December 27, 1943. It is also interesting that Mr. W. L. White of the Central California Traction and former General Manager of the YVRy as one of the regional vice presidents. © Clayton J. Guest, March 31, 2006