Mason City’s Lionel Foster will be inducted into the Iowa African American Hall of Fame at a ceremony in August. “It’s a reward for my life’s work, helping people,” Foster said.|Lionel Foster of Mason City has been inducted into the Iowa African American Hall of Fame.
The Iowa African-American Hall of Fame, founded in 1995, recognizes major contributions that have improved the quality of life for Iowans.
“I am pleased and honored to receive the recognition. It’s a reward for my life’s work, helping people,” Foster said. “Sometimes all you hear is the criticism. It’s nice to get recognized.”
Lionel, an ex-Marine, has been a long-time Mason City resident and business owner. He is currently the director of the Mason City Iowa Human Rights Commission and has held that position for the past 39 years, since 1972.
Among his other accomplishments:
– Organized the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank in Mason City in the 1990s
– In 1997 he began working with abused, neglected and displaced children in the Iowa Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program
– In 2003, then Governor Tom Vilsack appointed Lionel to the Iowa Child Advocacy Board (ICAB)
– In 2007, Lionel was elected chair of ICAB
There will be an induction ceremony Aug. 5 at The Meadows Event and Conference Center at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.
The Iowa African-American Hall of Fame is a division of Iowa State University’s Black Cultural Center.
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