Hal Foster Award
The Hal Foster Award was developed in 1991 and is presented to members of KCSO&O who have demonstrated exemplary dedication and service to the Society and the local medical community.
Gerhard Cibis, recipient of the 2020 Hal Foster Award 
Joseph Guastello. recipient of the 2020 Hal Foster Award
Dr. Hal Lovelace Foster was born July 7, 1858 in Fosters Alabama, a town named after his grandfather.
Dr. Hal Lovelace Foster was born July 7, 1858 in Fosters Alabama, a town named after his grandfather. He received his AB degree from the University of Alabama, his MD degree from the New York University College of Medicine, Ophthalmology from New York Eye & Ear Infirmary Manhattan Eye & Ear Hospital.
In September of 1882 he came to Kansas City as it’s only ENT specialist. At that time there were only 2 hospitals in town: St. Josepg and Kansas City General. He taught at both the Kansas City University Medical College and University of Kansas and also became a Charter Member & Founding Member of many organizations such as: Western Ophthalmological, Otological, Laryngological and Rhinological Association, AOO, KC Academy of Medicine, Jackson County Medical Society, KC South-Western Clinical Society, and was also President of the Kansas City Society.
It all started in 1896 when he called the 1st meeting with over 500 invitations to MDs in Southern & Western States. This led to formation of the 1st Society – The Western Ophthalmological, Otological, Laryngological, and Rhinological Association. In 1898 the name was shortened and changed to the Western Ophthalmologic and Oto-Laryngologic Association.
By 1907 it was the largest Specialty Society in the US with 434 members. The group grew quickly with members from all over the US – and led, in 1903, to the development of the AAOO – which in turn grew so much it was necessary to split into 2 separate societies. The AAO became official in 1979.
For all his contributions, Dr Foster was unassuming and preferred to stay in the background. In 1896 he was proposed for the 1st president of the Society but he declined because he felt that it would be best to begin with an older man. He declined again the following year for the same reason. Although he served as Secretary, he never served as president.
Dr Foster, at the age of 83, after almost 60 years of practice, retired in Dec 31, 1941.
A little more than a year after the 50th anniversary (1945) of the Academy, Dr Foster passed away at the age of 87.
Recipients
| 1991 | Calvin J. Curts, MD |
| 1991 | Clarence H. Steele, MD |
| 1992 | William Barry, MD |
| 1992 | Dick Underwood, MD |
| 1993 | Larry L. Calkins, MD |
| 1993 | Gunnar O. Proud, MD |
| 1994 | Fred N. Bosilevac, MD |
| 1994 | Charley W. Norris, MD |
| 1996 | Joel Wurster, MD |
| 1997 | Pat A. Barelli, MD |
| 1997 | Lawrence L. Hyde, MD |
| 1999 | Richard N. Barr, MD |
| 1999 | Jacquelyne Holdcraft, MD |
| 2000 | Quentin C. Huerter, MD |
| 2000 | Oscar T. Pinsker, MD |
| 2001 | William Case, MD |
| 2002 | Thomas Cotton, MD |
| 2002 | Robert Weir, MD |
| 2006 | Frederick W. Hahn, Jr., MD |
| 2007 | Larry Piebenga, MD |
| 2008 | Michael Hughes, MD |
| 2009 | Wilber Spalding, MD |
| 2011 | Eugene Bortnick, MD |
| 2012 | Thomas Coulter, MD |
| 2014 | Larry Hoover, MD |
| 2014 | King Lee, MD |
| 2014 | Charles Luetje, MD |
| 2015 | William Mangum, MD |
| 2015 | Felix Sabates, MD |
| 2019 | Doug Girad, MD |
| 2019 | John Hagan, MD |
| 2020 | Gerhard Cibis, MD |
| 2020 | Joseph Guastello, MD |
Simone Speaker Endowment
In memoriam of Dr. Joseph Simone, we have established the Simone Speaker Endowment to fund future speakers at our Ophthalmology Journal Club Meetings. Funding for our journal club has always been tenuous, and we are proud to honor Dr. Simone with this endowment.
