From 1964 to 2014, this couple has attended all 50 banquets

Ken and Marlene Foster Courtesy photo

By Gene O. Morris

McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Nebraska -- During the midst of Saturday night's gala banquet of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, the Master of Ceremonies, Cal Siegfried, called attention to Ken and Marlene Foster's long-standing loyalty to community activities.

The feat Cal congratulated was the fact that Ken and Marlene, one of McCook's most active and involved couples, have attended every Chamber banquet for 50 straight years, starting in 1964 and continuing through the 2014 Chamber festivities at the Republican Valley Events Center.

What an amazing accomplishment! But, if you know Ken and Marlene, it's not surprising. Ever since they came back to town in 1959 for Ken to coach the McCook Bison basketball team, the Fosters have been huge community supporters.

Ken and Marlene became involved in the Chamber in '64, shortly after Ken took a job with First National Bank, joining a team--at the time--which also included Harold Larmon, George Rainbolt, and Leon "Fuzz" Flaska.

Through the years, Ken went on to become the Chairman of the Board at First National Bank-McCook during the final years of the 1990s. He has remained active since his retirement in 2000, and now serves, on a part-time basis, as a Good Will Ambassador for First Central Bank.

And, as always, he's doing a whale of a job, helping First Central win this year's Community Service Award.

There's more to tell about the Fosters, including Ken's presidency of the Chamber in 1970 and the South Platte United Chambers of Commerce in 1971 and Marlene's active support of the McCook YMCA and many other worthy causes.

For now, though, let's pay tribute to Ken and Marlene for attending 50 straight Chamber banquets. As always, the Fosters were upbeat about the experience. "You know what," Ken said, "we've enjoyed every one of them."