BOONE—John Foster West joined the faculty at Appalachian State University in 1968 to establish the university’s creative writing program.

As a result of his leadership, the Department of English has built a cadre of faculty who are accomplished poets, playwrights, fiction writers and novelists. The department also has established a visiting writers series, which brings noted creative writers of all genres to campus.

West retired from Appalachian in 1991. He died May 2 at the age of 89.

West mentored many students and young faculty members while at Appalachian.

“John Foster West was and always will be synonymous with creative writing at ASU,” said Joseph Bathanti, a professor in Appalachian’s Department of English and co-director of the Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series. “He was foremost a teacher, and his influence, during his distinguished career at Appalachian, continues to bear fruit. It’s not an understatement to say that he is a legend in these parts and, indeed, around the state of North Carolina.”

West was well known among writers across the state. “John Foster was a dear friend since we met, I believe in l969 at the Writers’ Conference in Boone,” wrote Ron Bayes, writer-in-residence at St. Andrews College and former chair of the N.C. Writers Conference. “He was always such a breath of fresh air: fun, profound, and ever a free spirit. I shall miss him deeply.”

Locally, West was perhaps best known for his book “The Ballad of Tom Dula,” which recounts the murder of Laura Foster and the conviction and hanging of Tom Dula. The murder was immortalized in the song The Ballad of Tom Dooley by the Kingston Trio and others, and it was the subject of an outdoor drama performed in Wilkes County.

For the book, West researched newspaper articles and court records in an attempt to find the truth behind the legend.

He also wrote “The Summer People,” “Time Was” and “Appalachian Dawn,” and poetry collections including, “High Noon in Pompeii: The Latter-Day Poetry of John Foster West.”

“Although John Foster had retired before I came to Appalachian, faculty and former students continued to talk about him,” said Susan Weinberg, an associate professor in the Department of English and co-director of the visiting writers series. “It was clear that he had energized and inspired students. He put creative writing on the map, academically speaking, at a time when it was not yet considered a serious subject – or even something that could be taught – at many institutions. By doing this, he laid a strong foundation for the future growth of our program.”

West’s support of aspiring writers continued long after he retired from Appalachian. He created the John Foster West Creative Writing Prize.

“His generosity in endowing a scholarship fund for creative writing students upon his retirement continues to encourage and inspire our students today,” Weinberg said. “Students compete through their work to win the annual spring semester scholarship, and this helps them to take their work to a professional level and to begin to see themselves as serious writers. For many years, we celebrated the winners of this award with a luncheon that John Foster shared with the winners and runners up, along with other writing award winners. The students enjoyed meeting him and hearing about the earlier life of our creative writing program and department.”

A memorial service celebrating West’s life was held May 9. Memorial donations can be made to the John Foster West Creative Writing Prize Endowment, in care Dr. Jeanne Dubino, chair, Department of English, PO Box 32052, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608.

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