Thomas Joseph Foerster, known throughout his long political career as Tom Foerster, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1928. Most of his professional career was devoted to public administrative posts in Pennsylvania. He was employed by the City of Pittsburgh City Council in 1955. In 1958 he was elected to the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives for the 27th Legislative District (North Side neighborhood), and he held this position through five successive elections, until 1968. In the Pennsylvania State Legislature he served as Chairman of both the House Fisheries Committee and the Special Clean Streams Committee. He was elected to the Allegheny County Board of Commissioners in 1967 and served as County Commissioner for a record seven consecutive terms over 28 years. Foerster's main legislative interests were environmental conservation, human services, and education. While serving in the state legislature, he was the driving force behind the passage of Pennsylvania's 1965 Clean Streams Act and 1966 Mines Subsidence Act. While he was Allegheny County Commissioner between 1967 and 1995, Foerster supported the establishment of the Community College of Allegheny County. He led an overhaulof the county's Kane Regional Centers which provide medical help to the poor and the elderly. He was instrumental in the creation of the PittsburghInternational Airport that opened in 1992. He also supported legislation to change the structure of Allegheny County government, working in favor of home rule. In 1996, Foerster was appointed Distinguished Fellow of Politics and Government for Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh, and he taught and participated in seminars at these schools. In 1999 he was elected to Allegheny County Council, but health problems prevented him from actually participating on the council. He died in Pittsburgh on January 11, 2000.
From the description of Papers of Tom Foerster, 1948-1999. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 53473395
