Tom Forkner

Tom Forkner was born June 14, 1918, in Hawkinsville, Georgia. He attended Young Harris Junior College where he has been on the Board of Trustees for more than 20 years. He then went to Woodrow Wilson Law School and began practicing law at age 23. World War II cut short his law practice and he spent 4 years and 9 months in the army. Upon his return, and the death of his father, he turned to his father’s business Forkner Realty Company and experienced a successful career in real estate.

In 1955, he co-founded Waffle House, Inc. and became its first president. In 1959, his fast paced, seven day per week schedule ended in a sudden trip to the hospital with multiple ailments causing him to change his lifestyle dramatically. Stepping back from his real estate work and Waffle House responsibilities Mr. Forkner adopted a good health plan, which included playing golf. As a senior amateur, his accomplishments are as impressive as his off the field successes. He was named the Georgia Senior Champion four times (1968, 1969, 1982, 1986), Georgia Seniors Four-Ball Champion twice (1981, 1982) and International Senior Champion twice (1974, 1980). He was also acknowledged by Golf Digest as a Top 10 National Senior Golfer four times (1974, 1978, 1980, 1986). Among his many other tournament wins, he was the Age 80 and Over Division World Super Seniors Champion in 2003 and 2004. Married for more than 60 years, he and his wife Martha have one son, Thomas F. Forkner Jr.; two daughters, Martha Jean “Marti” Vernon and Allison Johnson; five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Mr. Forkner is presently a member of the Georgia Senior Golf Association, American Seniors, Society of Seniors, Western Seniors, 3 Score & 10 and Atlanta Athletic Club.

Tom Forkner was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame on January 6, 2007.