Established in 2015, the Gene Forman Inspiration Award honors a current or former student-athlete or coach who demonstrates profound perseverance in the face of adversity. After being paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident, Linfield football player Gene Forman '67 went on to successful 40-year coaching career in several small districts in southern Oregon. He served as a positive role model to hundreds of student-athletes.
SUBMIT A NOMINATION
Bob Ferguson '65
1965 Linfield graduate Bob Ferguson’s personal story is remarkable. The 2018 recipient of the Gene Forman Inspiration Award, Ferguson overcame severe injuries suffered as a U.S. Marine Corps captain in Vietnam. After recovering, he went on to lead a life of service and inspiration to others. FULL STORY
Dr. Curtis Manns '62
The late Dr. Curtis Manns is remembered as a pioneer in the history of Linfield College Athletics. Manns broke through prejudice and racial barriers that existed in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He pioneered diversity and cultural awareness on the Linfield campus, hosting multi-racial dinner receptions at his home and forming diverse study groups. FULL STORY
Gene Forman '67
Spreading his love and knowledge for the game of football as a small-school coach for 40 years after his playing days ended in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, Gene Forman was the inaugural recipient of the Linfield Athletics Inspiration Award. Upon its presentation, it was promptly named the “Gene Forman Inspiration Award.” FULL STORY
