Foster, Marcellus E. (Marcellus Elliott), 1870-

Born in Pembroke, Kentucky, Marcellus Elliot Mefo Foster (1870-1942) and his parents, Mariella and Marcellus, moved to Huntsville, Texas, in 1873. Foster graduated from Sam Houston Normal Institute (now Sam Houston State University) in 1890. Five years later, he joined the Houston Post, working alongside William Sydney Porter, known best as O. Henry. In 1899, he became the youngest editor of a Texas newspaper. Two years later, he left the Post to found the Houston Chronicle . Using the pseudonym Mefo, Foster also began writing the weekly column Our City, which challenged the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s.

In 1908, Jesse H. Jones became part owner of the Chronicle, purchasing full ownership when Foster retired in 1926. The next year, Foster joined the Houston Press as editor and started writing the column Why, which criticized the state prison system under manager Marshall Lee Simmons and Governor Daniel J. Moody. After retiring as editor in 1937, Foster continued the column until 1941.

In addition to his newspaper career, Foster served as University of Texas Regent (1925-1931), president of several publisher and editor associations, and director or president of numerous realty, banking, and insurance companies. He married twice, first in 1905 to Zaidee L. Lochhead, with whom he had three children, and then Clare Collier LaBarge in 1919. Foster also published four books, including The Town Tattler (1920) and Mefo Wanders and Wonders (1929).

Source:

Lucko, Paul M. Foster, Marcellus Elliot. Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed January 20, 2011. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffo52 .

From the guide to the Foster, Marcellus Elliot, papers 94-342; 95-057., 1920, 1925, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Born in Pembroke, Kentucky, Marcellus Elliot "Mefo" Foster (1870-1942) and his parents, Mariella and Marcellus, moved to Huntsville, Texas, in 1873.

Foster graduated from Sam Houston Normal Institute (now Sam Houston State University) in 1890. Five years later, he joined the "Houston Post," working alongside William Sydney Porter, known best as O. Henry. In 1899, he became the youngest editor of a Texas newspaper. Two years later, he left the "Post" to found the "Houston Chronicle." Using the pseudonym Mefo, Foster also began writing the weekly column "Our City," which challenged the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s.

In 1908, Jesse H. Jones became part owner of the "Chronicle," purchasing full ownership when Foster retired in 1926.

The next year, Foster joined the "Houston Press" as editor and started writing the column "Why," which criticized the state prison system under manager Marshall Lee Simmons and Governor Daniel J. Moody. After retiring as editor in 1937, Foster continued the column until 1941.

In addition to his newspaper career, Foster served as University of Texas Regent (1925-1931), president of several publisher and editor associations, and director or president of numerous realty, banking, and insurance companies.

He married twice, first in 1905 to Zaidee L. Lochhead, with whom he had three children, and then Clare Collier LaBarge in 1919. Foster also published four books, including "The Town Tattler" (1920) and "Mefo Wanders and Wonders" (1929).

From the description of Foster, Marcellus Elliot, papers, 1920, 1925 (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 719496976