Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Leonard R. “Sonny” Forte (‘63)

The personal and professional journey of Austin Peay State University alumnus Dr. Leonard R. “Sonny” Forte (B.S. ‘63) is one that has the potential to inspire many future generations of Governors.

Dr. Forte met his late wife, Sarah Overstreet-Forte through her older brother, who was Dr. Forte’s roommate and football teammate at Austin Peay. The Fortes were married on June 29, 1962 at the Fairview Baptist Church in Bordeaux. They would go on to be married for 58 years and have three children together - David Forte, Mark Forte and Elizabeth Alman.

In August 1962, Dr. and Mrs. Forte moved to Austin Peay, where they lived in the middle of campus in former U.S. Army barracks that had been converted into married student apartments. During his time as an undergraduate in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Dr. Forte was a letterman in both football and track and field. At the time, APSU was known as Austin Peay State College. Mrs. Forte worked in a beauty salon while her husband played in his last football season and completed his senior year of college.

Dr. Forte earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1963. He went on to graduate from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine with a Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 1969. He then served as a professor of Pharmacology for four decades at the University of Missouri and for 35 years as senior research career scientist at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.

Throughout his career as a professor and researcher, he brought much distinction to his alma mater with his considerable academic and professional accomplishments. In 1987, novel receptors in cultured opossum kidney cells were discovered in his laboratory, which led to the publication of the discovery of the existence of a new class of peptide hormones in the American Journal of Physiology in 1988. In 1992, members of his laboratory synthesized the peptide uroguanylin, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science in 1993. These scientific contributions from Dr. Forte’s laboratory led to him being awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the State University of Ceara in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2000. He also made many scientific contributions to the field of Endocrinology, and was included in numerous other publications.

Throughout his career, he was invited to serve on many committees and to give countless academic presentations. He has received a considerable number of professional awards and belongs to professional societies including the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, the American Physiological Society, the Society for Molecular Imaging and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Forte retired from his position as a professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine on Oct. 1, 2009. In 2018, he and Mrs. Forte created a scholarship known as the Forte-Overstreet Family Scholarship Endowment. After she passed away on May 30, 2020, Dr. Forte renamed it the Sarah Overstreet-Forte Scholarship in her honor. To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be enrolled full-time at APSU and demonstrate a need for financial assistance.

Over the years, Dr. and Mrs. Forte were avid supporters of his alma mater and APSU athletics. In recent years, he has continued their commitment through his faithful contributions to their scholarship. His story is a proud chapter in the legacy that has made the Austin Peay experience what it is today.

Four inducted into Red Coat Society

During Homecoming 2022 celebrations, Austin Peay recognized four longtime athletics department supporters with induction into the Red Coat Society.

The Red Coat Society’s 18th induction class included Dr. Jeannie Beauchamp, Ed Bunio, Tom Jones, and Eunice Washington. The society, a Hall of Fame for service to the Austin Peay Athletics Department, was established in 2004 to honor those longtime supporters of Governors athletics.

The University extends Red Coat Society membership to those individuals who have been a member in good standing of the Monocle Society or its predecessors for at least five years; supported the athletic programs at Austin Peay through financial contributions or participation in Monocle Society fundraisers and other events; and provided support to more than one sport both at home and away whenever possible and is recognized within the APSU community for their association with Austin Peay athletics.

APSU athletics celebrates Joe and Cathi Maynard Family Athletics Complex

Austin Peay Athletics ‘Levels Up’ with new student-athlete lounge

Thanks to the charitable donations by members of the Monocle Society, Austin Peay State University Athletics opened its first all-student-athlete lounge.

“I am so excited to welcome our student-athletes to their lounge,” said Austin Peay Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison. “As we continue to level up, there is nothing more important than enhancing our student-athlete experience. Thanks to the Monocle Society members that made this project a reality for our Govs.”

The lounge, which features multiple recliners, bean bags, two 75-inch TVs, a PlayStation 5, a microwave and a fridge among other amenities, offers studentathletes the opportunity to relax in between classes or practices.

The student-athlete lounge is located on the second floor of the Winfield Dunn Center in room 248 which borders Lot 50, nearest Raymond C. Hand Park.

Last fall, the University hosted the Joe and Cathi Maynard Family Athletics Complex Naming Celebration at Fortera Stadium.

“The Austin Peay community is excited to honor Joe and Cathi Maynard for their transformative gift made to the APSU Department of Athletics,” APSU President Mike Licari said. “Their $15 million pledge is the largest single gift in University history, and we are proud that the Joe and Cathi Maynard Family Athletics Complex will commemorate the generous commitment this family has made to our campus community.”

Named Austin Peay’s 2020 Philanthropists of the Year, Joe and Cathi Maynard have given generously to the University since 2017, including improvements to the baseball field – now named Joe Maynard Field – and the softball park – known as Cathi Maynard Park.