Oglethorpe University

Benjamin “Ben” S. Forkner was a halfback for one of the final Stormy Petrels football teams, and a key member of the basketball team.

Forkner was a part of the early days of the Oglethorpe basketball program, and a member of Coach John Patrick’s historic team that took a trip to play Penn State, George Washington, Long Island University and several other eastern powerhouse teams.Forkner’s sophomore season was rough for Oglethorpe, but the team saw improvement in his junior and senior year. He was also a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity and The O Club.

Forkner was born in Tennessee, married his wife Bessie in 1905, then they moved to Georgia in 1912. In his professional career, Forkner began in the dairy industry when he first moved to Atlanta, but is best known for being the real-estate superintendent and manager of Avalon Esates, Georgia. It was there that Forkner settled his family, and his son Tom would later found and open the first Waffle House. Forkner also founded his own real-estate company, then served 16 years as the Avondale School District superintendent.