Former Memphis Tigers radio host Forrest Goodman remembered for passion, fatherhood at funeral

Phillip Gathright calmly stepped to the podium at Bartlett Baptist Church, the last of five speakers at the funeral of Memphis radio host Forrest Goodman on Saturday.

The previous four spoke about knowing Goodman from his two-decade career in radio. But Gathright, Goodman's best friend, took the audience back to Collierville High School when Gathright was a new kid in town as a sophomore.

He didn’t know anybody but when he walked in the auditorium, Gathright sat next to a kid that he remembered for having “the blondest hair in the world.”

It was Goodman. A friendship was soon born over love of sports, music and whatever topic Goodman wanted to share.

“It became a tradition every morning,” Gathright said. “He was at the desk in front of me and always turned around and we sat and talked.”

The passion in Goodman’s voice was evident then and it became evident to those who remembered him following his death earlier this week at the age of 48.

Goodman’s jovial presence endeared him to Memphis fans who listened to him before and after every Tigers football and men’s basketball game. In his memory, attendees wore blue to symbolize his love of Memphis, the team he championed from his childhood days.

To those who worked alongside him, Goodman was remembered for the pride he took in his work and the warmth he showed to colleagues.

Danny Bowen, senior advisor for enterprise content at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, recalled when Goodman started producing podcasts at The Commercial Appeal, he took joy in helping older journalists get comfortable in a new medium.

Jimmy Shotwell added he was nervous when Goodman approached him to do a podcast about barbecue. The two started The Rub Podcast and did it for three years with Shotwell becoming more comfortable as Goodman mentored him.

“You could see his passion there for his industry he worked in and the professionalism he had,” Shotwell said. “He told me: trust your copy, slow down and take your time, eat the mic. He showed me all the small details that made me such a better person.”

As each speaker talked, a display laid on the stage reflecting Goodman’s great passions. A blue Memphis Tigers flag in the center. A picture of he and his dog on a fishing trip. A portrait of him hugging his daughter Abigail.

During the service, a short video was played of a Goodman hosting a pregame show at the Liberty Bowl with Abigail alongside him. He asked her questions about the pregame festivities and she talked about being excited to run on the field and see Pouncer, the Tigers’ mascot.

As tears fell, the audience was reminded that Goodman took great pride in being a father and husband, more than a voice to Tigers fans. All five speakers had a story of how he loved his wife Michelle and bragged on Abigail’s softball exploits even while in the hospital.

“I learned a lot about being a dad from your dad,” said radio host Ben Ferguson, who worked alongside Goodman at 600WREC. “You show up, you support your family and nothing else matters.”

In a fitting close, the Memphis fight song played over the speakers before the audience was dismissed — one last reminder of how Goodman went from talking sports in high school to becoming a friendly voice to Tigers fans for two decades.

Gathright reflected on that journey as he thought about those high school days where he first saw Goodman’s love for Memphis in those homeroom discussions.

“That’s what made him happy, along with his family,” Gathright said. “I know from this day forward our lives will never be the same. We’ll all miss Forrest and how he touched each one of us.”

For those wishing to donate to Goodman's memorial fund, a GoFundMe has been set up in his honor.

You can reach Tigers football beat writer Evan Barnes on Twitter (@Evan_B) or by email at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com