Lawrence “Larry” Foster, 88, former Johnson & Johnson corporate vice president of public relations, passed away last week.
In part for his handling of the 1982 and 1986 Tylenol crises, Foster received four of the highest public relations awards, including the Institute for Public Relations Alexander Hamilton Medal for lifetime contribution to the field.
“I strongly believe that your success in our profession will be judged on the quality of your skills, along with your integrity and your ability to generate trust in your relationship with others,” he said in his acceptance speech.
Foster was an accomplished professional, published author and an involved alumnus of Penn State University.
“A true and inspiring professional. It is humbling to be on the same honor roll as Larry,” said Björn Edlund, this year’s Hamilton Medal recipient.
Larry Foster set a standard of great value to our profession– that building and maintaining trust us fundamental in all we do. His willingness to share his knowledge made a great contribution to all of us.
Larry was not only a consummate public relations professional but, even more important, a very good man in many dimensions.
Sad news. Larry was a wonderful guy. I was fortunate to have spent a week with him at Penn State when we both received Alumni Fellow awards the same year (1992). We spent a week together co-lecturing in both the College of Communication and the College of Business, and I got to know him very well. He will be missed by Ellen and the family that he loved so much, by Penn State that was the beneficiary of his significant contributions, by the PR profession, and by all who had the pleasure to work with and know him.
Rest in peace!
Truly the loss of a giant in the communications realm. It was an honor to sit at the same table with Larry on occasion. He gave our profession so much to live up to. He will be missed.