Few in western Kentucky can say they’ve never heard of Bobbie Foust.
An accomplished journalist who has spent time as the reporter and editor at The Marshall County Tribune-Courier, and a reporter at The Paducah Sun and the Lyon County Herald Ledger, Foust has been recording the history of the region as it happens for more than 45 years. In that time, the Calvert City resident has seen just a little bit of everything, covering human interest, government, breaking news and virtually anything that might cross a news desk.
Jody Norwood, general manager for the Herald Ledger and The Cadiz Record, attributes his whole career to Foust, who he said taught him everything he knew. Foust worked as the editor of the Tribune-Courier in Benton when then publisher Jim Ward hired him as a reporter in Eddyville, which also fell under Ward’s management. Largely untrained at the time of his start in 2001, Norwood said Foust stepped up to become a mentor.
“Hands down, Bobbie taught me everything I know,” Norwood said. “About being a journalist, and a reporter and also what it takes to run a newspaper, because those are two totally different skill sets. And she did all of it through the years.”
More than a voice of wisdom in the newsroom, Norwood said Foust brought a cool, level-headed approach to anything in which was involved. He recalled a time in his career – after he’d been named editor – when both were working at the Lyon County paper that a disgruntled employee grew angry over a change made to the content of an article. The change was small, but the situation escalated quickly. Until Foust stepped in to mediate and defuse a potentially ugly outcome.
“We had a little bit of a verbal confrontation between he and I – and Bobbie came up and calmed everything down,” Norwood said. “Got everybody to sit down and talk about things. (She) was a very level-headed person, asked everybody to take a deep breath and came to a resolution. And that was just her personality. She could be very excited about something, but she was also a very calming effect on everybody.”
That cool objectivity served her well on the job, and remains one of the reasons many in Marshall County and beyond respect her so. Foust’s youngest child and only son, Dennis Foust, said his mother had very strong philosophies and convictions, but when it came to reporting the news those opinions had no bearing on anything.
“Her passion is journalism,” Dennis said. “And her passion is making sure that people know the facts about what’s going on. … She enjoys a good reputation for writing the facts, writing the truth. Not all journalists do that. She understands the difference between an editorial opinion and a news story, and she has always been able to make that distinction. And she said, ‘If I’m writing my opinion, it will be on the editorial page. If I’m writing a news story, I’m going to report the facts. … She’s a throwback to old-style journalism.”
Strong ethics were a definitive cornerstone not only professionally, but on the home front as well. Dennis said his mother worked hard to instill in integrity in her four children. She just worked hard in general, for that matter. Dennis said his parents often went without to ensure that their children had all they needed and to be able to complete their education, which was critical in their home.
“I never felt entitled, but I always knew they’d figure out a way,” Dennis said. “And I think they’ve taught me well, too. But the main thing is, they taught us responsibility. And I think that’s the thing about her: she’s responsible. Oh gee, the things that she has done over the years that people probably wouldn’t even know about. And she doesn’t do things for somebody to pat her on the back or anything like that, but she taught us those things too.
Education was something she always stressed to her children, and more importantly, the value of being an independent thinker. It’s something for which he’s always been thankful.
“She taught and she encouraged us to think for ourselves,” Dennis said. “… There’s four years difference in age between my oldest sister and me, and in between us she had twins. … One of the things that I will always remember … and this tells you about how she is about everybody is their own person … like I said, she had twins, Jackie and Terri, and people would always refer to them as ‘the twins.’ And that would kind of irritate her. She would say, ‘They’re not the twins. They’re Jackie, and they’re Terri.’ That’s just the way it was.”
Highly opinionated – “83 years old and getting stronger,” as Dennis put it – and passionate about her beliefs, Dennis said his mother is a progressive thinker. She loves a good debate, and unlike many she could disagree with those around her but still love and respect them at the end of the day. Dennis said he felt that respect was mutual among those with whom Foust spoke on the opposite end of the spectrum.
“I guess that’s something I’ve always admired about her,” Dennis said. “… She stakes out her position, but if she’s wrong, if you can convince her she’s wrong, she’ll be the first to admit it. So, that’s the thing. And she’s not afraid of consequences in terms of, as long as she’s true to her beliefs and is writing the truth, then I think her philosophy is that everything else will take care of itself.”
Though she has spent the better part of her years as the objective observer, and thus limited in her civic activities, Foust has played her own critical role. A walking library of community history – in both Marshall and Lyon counties – Foust has compiled extensive files of community news. It’s something of a passion as much as a livelihood. Foust is working to compile the history of the founding of Kuttawa, just one of her many projects.
Sally Whittington, friend and member of the Lyon County Historical Society, said Foust is amazing in her knowledge and the benefit she’s proven to the history of the county.
“She is just absolutely invaluable to Lyon County Historical Society,” Whittington said. “She has done the most wonderful articles for us, and holding our information. The woman is just absolutely amazing to me, she has such a fantastic mind.”
So much so, she secured her place in Eddyville and the surrounding communities as one of Lyon County’s own. It’s not an easy thing to manage.
“I can tell you that she’s a real southern Belle in every sense of the word,” Whittington said. “She just goes out of her way to be accommodating for anything that (anyone may) need. She and I have mainly dealt with things of a historical nature. She’s written wonderful things for us; we gave her a lifetime membership a few months ago to the historical society because she’s considered a Lyon Countian, believe it or not. Those are hard credentials to come by. … I don’t know that there’s a higher compliment from people around here. She’s just wonderful.”
Still, Foust has activities in which she is actively involved. In addition to helping with the Lyon County Historical Society and serving on the Calvert City Advisory Council, Whittington said Foust has actively volunteered in efforts with the General James Caldwell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In addition, Foust has volunteered with several veterans groups throughout the years, something that has a special place in her heart as her late husband Ray was a serviceman. Foust assists her daughter Terri White, in organizing a free regionwide Veterans’ Luncheon and program each November, as well as its associated fundraisers.
Whittington said Foust, at 83 years young, remained a ball of energy that never ceased to amaze her.
“She’s like the Engergizer Bunny, she really is,” Whittington said. “… The woman just amazes me. She’s a dear friend, and well, I can’t say enough nice things about her. She just goes above and beyond. … She just continues to step up to the plate and can handle it.”
And while she no longer keeps a 9-to-5 on the clock reporter’s position, Foust can still be found doing some freelance work, covering Calvert City Council meetings and the occasional human interest piece for area publications.
Perhaps it’s a love of people and community that drive her.
“For me, when I think of Bobbie, I think of dependability,” Norwood said. “Whether you’re talking about work, or whether you’re talking about family or if you just need a lift somewhere: If Bobbie says she’ll do it, she’ll do it. You don’t have to worry about it.
“She’s a very honest person,” he added. “She’s a very dependable person, reliable. She cares a great deal about family. As long as I’ve known Bobbie, that is probably the most important thing to her. And not just her immediate family, but the people she meets and works with, she cares a great deal about. She has a very big heart.”