DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Edward Ferdinant Forsgard. Now, Waco has given Texas plenty of characters worth remembering, but Edward Ferdinant Forsgard — known to just about everyone as Fuzzy — might be one of the more quietly remarkable ones. Born in 1870 at 115 Bridge Street, right there in Waco, Fuzzy came into the world the son of Swedish immigrants, Samuel Johan Forsgard and Mary Johnson.
And here's a thing that'll settle heavy on you if you let it: Fuzzy was the only one of their six children to survive into adulthood. His parents and his siblings are all buried at Waco's First Street Cemetery. That's a particular kind of weight to carry through a life.
But carry it he did, and he carried it forward. By the time Fuzzy was eleven years old, he was already touring the country as a marksman and trapshooter, followin' in his father's footsteps. Eleven years old.
Most boys that age are hopin' to avoid chores. Fuzzy was competing across the country with a gun in his hand. He went on to attend Baylor University, and in 1896 he married Annie Marie Weaver, a woman who had come to the United States from England with her parents back in 1880.
Together, Edward and Annie had six children of their own — a full house by anyone's measure — and in 1908 they built a home at 1122 North 4th Street in Waco. Edward's widowed father lived right behind them in his own small house, close but independent, the way families sometimes arrange things when they want to keep an eye on each other without admitting it. Edward worked alongside his father across a few ventures — the family bakery, restaurant and supply store on Bridge Street, and then over at his father's Ambold's Sporting Goods Store.
He also worked in a cotton yard as a cotton classer, so the man knew his way around more than just a gun sight. When World War I arrived, the military took notice of what Fuzzy could do. He became a shooting instructor, working out at Rich Field right there in Waco.
After that, he served as a special Texas Ranger, and as a game and fish warden for McLennan County. A man who had spent his whole life with firearms was now helping keep order with them — and teaching others to handle them right. Now, the shooting alone would be enough for most biographies.
But Fuzzy also shared something else with his father: a love of inventing. He patented an automatic dishwasher designed for restaurants. He patented a package tie.
He developed a chemical and sawdust floor sweep designed to absorb dirt and moisture. The man's mind was working on problems the rest of us hadn't thought to solve yet. And on the world stage of competitive shooting, Fuzzy Forsgard was not just known — he was renowned.
He had competed in the sport for fifty years. Fifty years. And in 1908, the same year he built that home on North 4th Street, he held the world title.
When Edward Ferdinant Forsgard died in 1941, the people of Waco remembered him as a trapshooter, yes — but also as a patriot, a friend, and a father. A man born the only surviving child of six, who spent fifty years mastering one skill, invented things the world needed, and apparently never stopped moving. Fuzzy Forsgard.
Born on Bridge Street. Buried in history.
What the marker says
Edward Ferdinant Forsgard was born to Swedish immigrants Samuel Johan Forsgard and Mary Johnson in 1870 at their home at 115 Bridge Street in Waco. Edward, known as "Fuzzy," was the only one of the Forsgard's six children to survive into adulthood; his parents and siblings are buried at Waco's First Street Cemetery. Edward followed in his father's footsteps, touring the country as a marksman and trapshooter by age eleven. He attended Baylor University, and, in 1896, married Annie Marie Weaver, who had come to the United States from England with her parents in 1880. Edward and Annie had six children and built a home at 1122 North 4th Street in Waco in 1908; Edward's widowed father lived behind their home in his own small house. Edward worked with his father, first at the family's bakery, restaurant and supply store on Bridge Street, and then at his father's Ambold's Sporting Goods Store. Edward also worked in a cotton yard as a cotton classer. At the outset of World War I, he became a shooting instructor for the military, working at Rich Field in Waco. He also later served as a special Texas Ranger and as a game and fish warden for McLennan County. In addition to his skill with a gun, another trait Edward shared with his father was his love of inventing, patenting an automatic dishwasher for restaurants, as well as a package tie, and a chemical and sawdust floor sweep design to absorb dirt and moisture. Internationally, Edward was known as an expert target shooter. He had competed in the sport for 50 years and held the world title in 1908. At this death in 1941, Edward was remembered locally not only as a trapshooter, but also as a patriot, friend and father. (2003)