Charles D. Foster

Corps Grad ’70

Charles D. Foster, a Charleston, South Carolina native, was the first African-American student to graduate from the Corps of Cadets. He entered The Citadel in 1966 as a member of Golf Company. When asked about his return to The Citadel in 1967 he replied, “I feel like I’m lucky and I’m part of the school and the military. Sure I’m going back, I wouldn’t miss it.” Upon his graduation with a degree in Business Administration from The Citadel in 1970, he entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant. While in the Army, Foster worked as an Explosives Expert on the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. In 1973 he moved to Dallas, Texas to manage a large moving company. Foster passed away in 1986 in Dallas, Texas. 

“Although Mr. Foster is no longer with us, we still remember and honor his legacy. Mr. Foster was an American hero who served his country and became a significant part of our state’s history. It is truly an honor to recognize Mr. Charles Foster, a true trailblazer, and his story can serve as an inspiration to us all,” said U.S. Senator Tim Scott during the reading of a Congressional Record in Foster’s honor on Sept. 29, 2016.

On Nov. 5, 2016, during The Citadel's 2016 Homecoming game, The Citadel Black Alumni Association joined Citadel President, Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa on the stadium's field to honor Foster. Watch the video here.