Former Charleston coach to be honored

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Forrest will be inducted to CMU Hall of Fame

FAYETTE -- Joe W. Forrest of Charleston and the late Scott O. Swofford of Lake Saint Louis, two former Central Methodist College (now CMU) athletes who went on to distinguished careers as high school and colleges coaches, will be inducted into the Hairston Sports Hall of Fame at Central Methodist University Sept. 11. As Swofford is being honored posthumously, members of his family will attend the ceremony to accept the award on his behalf.

The induction ceremonies will begin at 3 p.m., Sept. 11, in the CMU Student and Community Center. Both inductees will be honored again at half time during the evening football game between CMU and Lindenwood University at CMU's Davis Field. Forrest and Swofford both were members of the Central Methodist football and rugby teams and graduated in 1972. Swofford died in September 2000.

Forrest, is a native of Malden, where he was a member of the high school football and track teams, began attending Central Methodist College in the fall of 1967. He became a member of the CMC Eagle football and rugby teams and played for four years. He also belonged to the "C" Letterman's Club and the social fraternity Chi Delta. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from Central Methodist in 1972.

Forrest began his freshman year at Central starting at both linebacker and offensive tackle positions. He lettered all four years of football and in 1969 and 1970 was named to the All-District 16 and the All-MCAU teams as a linebacker. In 1970, he was All-Conference both on offense and defense. He played at the offensive tackle, guard, tight end and linebacker positions and served as one of the team captains both his junior and senior years. He was part of all specialty teams. In 1971, he was awarded the Estes Award in Athletics.

After graduating from Central, Forrest became the head coach at Kemper Military Academy in Booneville. The following year he moved home to Malden, where he became the assistant football coach and head track coach for the next two years. In 1975 he became the head football coach and served in the position for 12 years. While at Malden, one of his teams had the honor to play in the state quarterfinals at Bush Stadium.

In 1987, Forrest became football coach at Charleston High School and built a winning program, competing in the state semifinals in 1989. All five seasons he served as coach at Charleston were winning seasons. While at Charleston, he also served as head football and track coach for two years, head football and assistant high school principal for three years, assistant high school principal for one year, high school principal for eight years, and superintendent of schools for two years.

Forrest was named Conference Coach of the Year in 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989, and was named District Coach of the Year for 1982, 1984 and 1987.

While coaching and teaching, Forrest went on to earn a master's degree in secondary education administration and a specialist in education degree at Southeast Missouri State University.

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