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Winston Groom was raised in Mobile, Alabama where he attended University Military School (now UMS-Wright Preparatory School). His earliest ambition was to become a lawyer but instead, chose to become a author. Groom attended the University of Alabama, was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and the Army ROTC, graduating in 1965. He served in the Army from 1965 to 1969, including a tour of duty in the Vietnam War.

Later he worked as a reporter for the Washington Star covering police and courtroom activities. Groom retired as a journalist at age 32, and wrote several novels. In 1985, Groom moved back to Mobile, where he began work on the novel Forrest Gump, published in 1986 but not making best-seller status until adaptation into this film. Then it eventually sold 1.7 million copies worldwide.

Groom devotes his time to writing history books about American wars. He has lived most recently in Point Clear, Alabama, on Mobile Bay, and Long Island, New York with his wife, Anne-Clinton and daughter, Carolina.

Bill Varney was born on 22 January 1934 in Beverly, Massachusetts, USA. He is known for Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Dune (1984). He was married to Suzanne Varney. He died on 2 April 2011 in Fairhope, Alabama, USA.

W.E.B. Griffin was born on 10 November 1929 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. He was married to Maria del Pilar Menendez and Emma Josefa Macalik. He died on 12 February 2019 in Fairhope, Alabama, USA.

Jacques Cartier was born on 26 April 1902 in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, USA. He was an actor, known for King of Jazz (1930). He was married to Zina de Rozen . He died on 4 November 1991 in Fairhope, Alabama, USA.

E. Daniel Corte Jr. was born on 9 November 1934 in Fairhope, Alabama, USA. He was an actor, known for Under Siege (1992). He was married to Cynthia Lavender and Camille Head. He died on 19 January 2012 in Fairhope, Alabama, USA.

Eddie Stanky was born on 3 September 1916 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He died on 16 June 1999 in Fairhope, Alabama, USA.

Phil Georgeff, was born in Chicago, IL on January 1, 1931 and died November 7, 2016, age 85. He retired from a stellar race calling career in December 1992. A Guinness Book of World record holder for calling 96,131 race calls, (aka "The Voice of Chicago Racing"). He lived a good life in retirement with wife in Fairhope, AL.

Whirlaway, ridden by Eddie Arcaro (Phil's favorite jockey) won 1941 Triple Crown, ignited Phil's interest in thoroughbred racing when Phil was 10. By age 16, 112 pounds, Phil was an exercise boy and hoped to be the next Eddie Arcaro. At 17 his weight jumped to 132, thus in Phil's words, "...so if I couldn't ride 'em, I'd write about 'em. I pursued writing and journalism with a passion..." He was sports editor in chief of his Austin High School paper. Phil received his bachelor's degree in 1954 at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Phil Georgeff called his first horse race professionally, in Illinois, on May 18, 1959 at Washington Park and called his last race at Hawthorne Race Course, IL on December 31, 1992. He was a master in the art of race calling.

Throughout those years Phil memorably, inspired and accurately, called races at Hawthorne Race Course (IL), Arlington Park (IL). He also called at other Chicago area racetracks.

Among his familiar fan-favorite and well known calling phrases are: "And They're Off! and "Here they come, spinning out of the turn!"

He was also Director of PR at Hawthorne and worked closely with family owners, Tom and Bob Carey. He edited "The Winner's Circle" an Illinois thoroughbred publication among his many other career successes.

Phil remained a writer and thoroughbred racing historian, kept current with Thoroughbred horse racing, and wrote editorials, articles, answered any media requests for interviews, comments, fan-mail, autograph requests, etc. until his death at 85 in AL on 7 November 2016.

(2002) Phil Georgeff told his life story in his autobiography, "And They're Off!" (My Years as the Voice of Thoroughbred Racing) (ISBN 0-87833-264-2).

(2003) Phil Georgeff has also written, the definitive biography, about the legendary 1948 Triple Crown Winner and first Thoroughbred Millionaire, entitled Citation - In A Class By Himself, with Forward by Tommy Trotter. (ISBN 0-87833-292-8).

Songwriter ("It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo'"), composer, singer, ukelele player and author, educated at the Chicago Preparatory School. He served in the military during World war I, then sang and played ukulele on radio from 1922, known as the "Red-Headed Music Maker". He made a worldwide radio tour between 1924 and 1927, became broadcasting director for the CBS "Majestic Theatre of the Air" in 1929, and was a featured performer on the NBC "Fitch Band Wagon" between 1932 and 1935. Thereafter he was the song leader on the "Original Community Sing" over CBS in 1936 and 1937. From 1941 through 1948 he was an advertising executive with Adsongs. Joining ASCAP in 1934, his chief musical collaborators included Haven Gillespie, Carson Robison, Harry Woods, and Peter De Rose; his other popular-song compositions include "Will You Forget Me While I'm Away?", "Underneath the Mellow Moon", "Land of My Sunset Dreams", "My Carolina Rose", "Whispering Trees", "Your Shining Eyes", "My Dream Sweetheart", and "Miss American Legion". (He also wrote children's tunes.)

Sally Maloney was born on 11 April 1912 in New Jersey, USA. She was an actress, known for The End of August (1981). She died on 7 October 2006 in Fairhope, Alabama, USA.

Milt Stock was born on 11 July 1893 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He died on 16 July 1977 in Fairhope, Alabama, USA.

Kyle LeDuc was born in 1981 in Cherry Valley, California, USA. He was married to Amber. He died on 11 November 2023 in Fairhope, Alabama, USA.

Simeon Coxe was born on 4 June 1938 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Power Rangers (2017), Lodge 49 (2018) and Infinity Girls (2015). He died on 8 September 2020 in Fairhope, Alabama, USA.