When Dave Forestner passed away in April 1999, Georgia and the Country lost a tremendous force and inspiration in the world of soccer. Dave came to the sport as many of us did, as a parent of youth soccer players. When Dave and wife Donna enrolled their children to play this new sport, Dave became an early critic of officiating. However when in 1976 Dave accepted a Referee’s challenge to pick up the gauntlet of refereeing, little did that Referee know the future impact on Refereeing in Georgia.

Dave took to Refereeing very naturally, and enjoyed being in the middle of the field. He quickly found that he could use his role as a referee to not only facilitate the game being played, but also impact it off the field as well. He was one of the rare breeds of Referees who taught and encouraged players while simultaneously Refereeing the game.

His talents on the youth field were noticed rather quickly, and it wasn't long before he added high school, college and adult amateur games. Of course Dave, being Dave, couldn't just stop with his work on the field. He quickly became a Referee Instructor and Assessor as well. He eventually worked his way up the ranks to a USSF State Referee Grade, State Instructor grade and State Assessor Grade.

Dave exemplified a total and absolute conviction that popularizing soccer began with the person in the middle of the field, and truly regarded Referees as ambassadors of the sport. However, to be a proper ambassador the game needed to be understood, and the "Laws of the Game" needed to be learned and then translated to the field.

Professionally Dave worked for IBM. While his administrative skills may have been useful and appreciated at IBM, GSSA appreciated and benefited from them even more. Dave's amazing zest for organization and instruction led him to become State Director of Referee Instruction. In this role, Dave developed a statewide instructional program for Georgia that also became a model for developing other referee educational programs nationwide. A course he developed to instruct volunteers on serving as a Linesman eventually evolved into a course used nation-wide.

At various times, Dave also served as: President of the Georgia Soccer Officials Associations, President of the Georgia Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association, GSSA State Director of Referee Instruction (1986-1996), USSF State Referee Grade, USSF State Instructor Grade, and USSF State Assessor Grade.

Many current Referee Instructors in Georgia were taught, evaluated, or mentored by him. Through the Dave Forestner Fund, established by his family in his memory, his legacy will continue for years to come. Dave's special gift was that when he walked out of a room everyone remaining found themselves with a smile lingering on their faces because Dave made them all feel better about life and its challenges.