Foster suffered a heart attack on Friday, his sister said, after going into the hospital for gall stones. He died yesterday at Methodist Hospital in Plano.

DALLAS — Former Dallas County Judge Jim Foster has died, according to his sister, Charlotte Foster Ross. He was 82.

Foster suffered a heart attack on Friday, his sister said, after going into the hospital for gallstones. He died yesterday at Methodist Hospital in Plano, Ross added.

“He was a loving, kind brother that was always there for everybody. He was the most soft-spoken human being I’ve ever known,” she continued.



This story continues below.

Foster was in the security business and ran unsuccessful campaigns for sheriff and constable before launching what looked like a longshot bid for the county’s top office.

In 2007, he defeated Republican County Judge Margaret Keliher, as Democrats swept into power in Dallas County.

“Jim Foster ran for and won Dallas County Judge at a time when other Democrats believed the seat was unwinnable. In his first year, he convened a summit for other newly elected county judges in the metroplex building upon the strong regional relationship that continues to exist today,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins told WFAA on Saturday.

But during his one term, Foster tangled publicly with Commissioner John Wiley Price, a fellow Democrat, over the Inland Port in southern Dallas County.

“You can’t stand for what’s right and expect to be the darling of the Democratic Party,” Foster told The Dallas Morning News in 2014. 

In 2010, Democratic voters replaced Foster with Jenkins.

After leaving office, Foster moved to Florida to work in real estate but later returned to Dallas.

“He was the most honest man I have ever known,” former Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey posted on Facebook on Saturday. “He loved Dallas County and his family was very involved in the history of northeast Dallas County.”

Foster regularly contributed images and insight to the Facebook group called Pioneers of Dallas County.

“Your host is spending a few days in one of the area hospitals. Trust me I’d much rather be writing about our history,” Foster wrote in one of his last posts this week.

Jenkins added that he has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Foster’s service to Dallas County residents.

His sister said arrangements are pending and added that Foster, a U.S. Army veteran, will be buried at the VA National Cemetery in Dallas.