Herschel Vincent Forester

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm, Saturday, January 12th at First Baptist Church, Dallas in the historic sanctuary. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, will be officiating. A reception will be held immediately following the service.

Herschel was born in Dallas, TX to Herschel and Blanche Forester on April 14, 1931. He graduated high school in 1948 from Woodrow Wilson, in Dallas. He attended college at Southern Methodist University, and was captain of the football team earning All Southwest Conference for 2 of his 4 years. He graduated in 1952 with a BBA. From 1952-1954, Herschel served in the US Airforce in the Office of Special Investigations and was captain of the football team at Hamilton Air Force Base. He then played for the Cleveland Browns from 1954-1957 as an Offensive Guard. During that time he was privileged to play on 2 consecutive World Championship teams. Upon retiring from football, Herschel began his professional career as a life insurance salesman. Later, he became involved in real estate and established Herschel Forester and Co. focusing mostly on commercial real estate. In 1982, he added outdoor advertising to his business ventures.

In 1956, Herschel met Sally Rogers at First Baptist Church of Dallas, and she had more of an impact on him than all the collisions of his football career combined! In 1958, they were married and began their life-long love affair of 50+ years. Herschel and Sally remained involved at FBC and raised their son and daughter around the fellowship of First Baptist Church of Dallas.

Herschel was active in the community serving as a member and leader in various organizations that he believed had an impact on society, but more importantly, had an eternal impact on people’s lives. One of his commitments was as a life-long member at First Baptist Church of Dallas serving as Deacon and Sunday School teacher to Juniors, College and Career, Young Marrieds and Nearly Weds.

Herschel was a kid at heart. He was silly and playful with his family and friends. He was always singing a favorite song or whistling a tune. He loved to workout, play games and memorize scripture. Most of all he loved people and his greatest mission was to tell others about the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Herschel is preceded in death by his parents, Herschel and Blanche Forester; his wife, Sally Forester; Sally’s parents, Horace and Ruby Rogers; his brother, Bill Forester and wife, Ann and their son, Byron Forester.

Those left to cherish his memory include his son, Herschel Forester, Jr and wife, Cindy; his daughter, Suzanne Clarke and husband, Steve; his grandchildren, Christopher Forester, Joshua Forester, Stephen Forester, Jonathan Forester, Ben Clarke and Daniel Clarke.

Pallbearers are Christopher Forester, Joshua Forester, Stephen Forester, Ben Clarke, Daniel Clarke and Jonathan Forester.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Dallas Life Foundation.

The family of Herschel Forester wishes to extend our sincere thanks to his loving and committed caregivers Carol Kaburu, Pauline Kimunai and Margaret Gatua and the committed staff at The Plaza at the Edgemere for making his last years more full and joyful. The family would also like to extend thanks to the staff and friends at First Baptist Church, Dallas as well as the Chapel at the Edgemere for enriching Herschel’s Christian faith and fellowship.