Murphy James Foster, Jr., known as Mike Foster (born July 11, 1930), served as the 53rd governor of Louisiana from January 1996 until January 2004. Foster's father was Murphy J. Foster, Jr., but Mike Foster uses "Jr." even though he is technically Murphy J. Foster, III. Foster is a businessman, landowner, and sportsman in St. Mary Parish in the sugar-growing section of the southern portion of the state.