Adapted from a story by David Millhouser
"Forrest Gump was one of my heroes in part because I respect folks smarter than me, and also because he appeared to experience and influence so much American history. What a guy … heroic when necessary, and while not an intellectual giant, he was courageous without swagger and wise without being glib … Gump seemed to meet every historical figure, and always had a positive effect on everyone around him. It was a crushing blow when I discovered he was a fictional character.