John Forney was born on June 4, 1927 in Los Angeles, Calif. He began his broadcasting career in Tuscaloosa while in high school and college doing Alabama basketball games. Broadcaster for the Birmingham Barons minor league baseball team in 1948. He spent 30 years with the Alabama Football Network and was play-by-play man for 19 of those years. From 1961-1966 he was host for the Bear Bryant television show and later was host of the Gene Stallings show. With Maury Farrell in 1948, Forney broadcast the renewal of the Alabama vs. Auburn game. The ‘48 game was the first televised coverage of football in the state of Alabama. Chosen Alabama Sportscaster of the Year in 1960 and 1964. He is deceased.