Forrest was from the fictional town of Greenbow, Alabama.
I personally think Winston Groom based Forrest Gump at least partially on Richmond Flowers.
They were both born in Alabama, Richmond in Dothan. They both wore braces on their legs. They both played college football in the SEC. Flowers played for Tennessee and scored the winning touchdown against Alabama.
Of course some huge differences too. Flowers went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys and Forrest went into the army. Richmond’s Father was Attorney General of Alabama. Forrest’s Mother was middle class.
They were both White and were world class runners (hurdler for Flowers) in events which are dominated by Blacks. Flowers was once probably the best hurdler in the country.