Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Winston Groom, Alabama grad and author of 'Forrest Gump,' dies at 77
Gadsden Times ^ | 9/17/2020 | Mark Cobb

Posted on 09/17/2020 2:52:08 PM PDT by Borges

Winston Groom, the writer, historian and University of Alabama graduate whose novel "Forrest Gump" became a pop-culture phenomenon, selling 1.7 million copies on the strength of its adaptation into an iconic, six-Oscar-winning 1994 movie, died Thursday at the age of 77. A representative of the mayor's office in Fairhope, where he had been living with his wife Susan, confirmed his passing.

As a proud Alabama alumnus, Groom also compiled and wrote the massive 2002 University of Alabama Press book "The Crimson Tide: An Illustrated History of Football at the University of Alabama" and an updated 2010 second version, "The Crimson Tide: The Official Illustrated History of Alabama Football, National Championship Edition."

Groom's other novels include "Better Times Than These," "As Summers Die," "Only," "Gone the Sun," "Such a Pretty, Pretty Girl" and the 2016 "El Paso," along with numerous nonfiction books largely based around military history.

Though scripts went through many iterations before finally going to camera, one facet of Groom's book director Robert Zemeckis kept was the framework of Gump narrating, looking back on his life.

Groom drew the idea for the book from a story his father told him about a neighbor's child who, despite mental challenges, displayed savant behavior. Inspired, Groom pushed aside another project and wrote "Forrest Gump" in a six-week burst of energy.

Born March 23, 1944, in Washington, D.C., and raised in Mobile County, Groom originally intended to follow his father into law but turned toward writing in college while penning humor and editing for the Alabama publication Mahout.

After graduation from Alabama with an English degree in 1965 and a tour of duty in Vietnam, Groom worked as a reporter for the Washington Star but retired from daily journalism to write fiction. After moving to New York City, he completed his first novel, "Better Times Than These," set in the Vietnam War, published in 1978. Following those were novels "As Summers Die" in 1980, and "Only" in 1984. With Duncan Spencer, he co-wrote 1983's "Conversations with the Enemy: The Story of PFC Robert Garwood," a work of creative nonfiction which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. "As Summers Die" also drew some attention from Hollywood, being adapted as a 1986 TV movie starring Scott Glenn, Jamie Lee Curtis and Bette Davis.

When Groom received the 2011 Harper Lee Award, Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers Forum, first-hand saw his graciousness as he engaged with readers at a signing after the awards ceremony.

"If they wanted to tell him a story about why somebody liked 'Forrest Gump,' or why somebody loved his football book, he would always stop and listen," Thompson said. "That doesn't always happen with famous writers."


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: chat
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

1 posted on 09/17/2020 2:52:08 PM PDT by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Borges

I have to say, Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies. I’ve never read the book though.


2 posted on 09/17/2020 2:56:27 PM PDT by kingRidiculous
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kingRidiculous

I loved Forrest. He was by far the smartest character in the movie.


3 posted on 09/17/2020 3:00:25 PM PDT by bankwalker (groupthink kills ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: TEXOKIE

Ping


4 posted on 09/17/2020 3:15:55 PM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (To the Left, The Truth is Right Wing Extremism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Borges

THE worst movie ever.


5 posted on 09/17/2020 3:27:30 PM PDT by vis a vis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bankwalker

Smartest? No.

But he had this thing called “common sense” which, in my opinion, is just as valuable.


6 posted on 09/17/2020 3:29:23 PM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32 (November 2020 I will be bathing in liberal tears..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Borges

While I enjoyed the biographical narrative of the central character the accompanying events, flavor and texture of the times was wonderfully captured in the movie and takes me back to those times each time I watch. It’s like looking at the family photo album.


7 posted on 09/17/2020 3:30:14 PM PDT by vigilence (Vigilence)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeorgiaDawg32

Yes. Smartest.


8 posted on 09/17/2020 3:37:02 PM PDT by bankwalker (groupthink kills ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: vis a vis

Why do you call it the worst movie ever?


9 posted on 09/17/2020 3:54:00 PM PDT by BipolarBob (The cost of abortion is a human sacrifice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

“Mama always said, dying was a part of life.”


10 posted on 09/17/2020 3:54:51 PM PDT by bhive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: bhive

“I’m pretty tired… I think I’ll go home now.”


11 posted on 09/17/2020 3:55:59 PM PDT by bhive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: bhive

“I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is.”


12 posted on 09/17/2020 3:58:06 PM PDT by bhive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: bhive

“You have to do the best with what God gave you.”


13 posted on 09/17/2020 3:59:16 PM PDT by bhive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: bhive

“There’s only so much fortune a man really needs, and the rest is just for showin’ off.”


14 posted on 09/17/2020 3:59:43 PM PDT by bhive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: bhive

“Miracles happen every day. Some people don’t think so, but they do.”


15 posted on 09/17/2020 4:00:23 PM PDT by bhive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: bhive

Always be able to look back and say, at least I didn’t lead no humdrum life.”


16 posted on 09/17/2020 4:01:24 PM PDT by bhive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Borges

“Mama always said life is like a box of chocolates. The nuts are mixed in with the good ones.”


17 posted on 09/17/2020 4:11:29 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: vis a vis
"THE worst movie ever."

Agreed. Awful movie.

18 posted on 09/17/2020 4:12:52 PM PDT by StormEye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Borges

My dad tried reading the sequel. The only book he threw in the trash. I don’t remember what the issue was.


19 posted on 09/17/2020 4:13:31 PM PDT by Rastus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bhive

Good grief....are you the official Forrest Gump quote keeper?


20 posted on 09/17/2020 4:13:56 PM PDT by Jane Long (Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson