Video: ‘Forrest Gump’ Author Draws Hundreds To Tupelo Reads Lecture

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — The author of a novel that became one of the most successful movies of all time was in our area today. The author of “Forrest Gump” brought out hundreds of people as part of an annual literacy initiative.

He is the author of nearly 20 non fiction books and novels, but by far, Winston Groom is best known for his 1986 work “Forrest Gump.”

The book is this year’s selection for the initiative known as “Tupelo Reads, We’re All On The Same Page.”

Hundreds turned out at the Lee County Library to hear Groom talk about his most famous book, which hit the big screen in 1994. Groom says he knew the movie was going to be popular only days after it was released.

“After the first weekend, everybody knew this was really going to be a big show,” Groom said.

Groom says he’s surprised that the movie became a classic.

“I was afraid the movie was going to be dated, because it is episodic, and it goes back to a period , for a lot of these people, before their time,” he said.

Groom says the character “Forrest Gump” is based on a man he’s father knew.

“A young retarded man who learned how to play the piano, 60 Minutes had just done a show on idiot savant syndrome and I thought I’m going to make some notes on that, maybe a scene somewhere some book I write. By the late that night I had the first chapter of “Forrest Gump,” Groom recalled.

A special guest at the “Tupelo Reads” event was 29 year old Connor Humphreys, best known as young Forrest in the movie.

Humphreys is from Corinth, where he still lives, and says starring in one of the most successful movies to ever hit the silver screen was a true blessing.

“The first couple of years after the film were really hectic. I did a lot of promotion for it, traveled overseas, Europe,Japan did promotions for the movie, there was a lot of attention surrounding it, especially for the first two years, then it kind of died down a little after that,” Humphreys said.

With a 20th year anniversary release of “Forrest Gump,” both Humphreys and Groom can expect to be busy for some time.

Humphreys will take part in a “Run Forrest Run” 5 k Friday night at Fairpark. The movie will also be screened that evening for the community.