Winston Francis Groom Jr. (March 23, 1943 – September 17, 2020) was an American author renowned for his novel Forrest Gump (1986), which became a cultural phenomenon after being adapted into the critically acclaimed 1994 film of the same name, starring Tom Hanks. The success of the film led to the novel selling more than one million copies worldwide. Groom penned a sequel, Gump and Co., published in 1995. His last novel was El Paso (2011).

Groom's literary contributions extend beyond fiction to include fifteen non-fiction works on diverse subjects such as the American Civil War and World War I. His work encompasses multiple biographies, reflecting his broad interest in history.

Born in Washington D.C., Groom grew up in Mobile, Alabama, where he attended University Military School, now known as UMS-Wright Preparatory School. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1965, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta and the Army ROTC. Following graduation, he served in the Army from 1965 to 1969, including a tour in Vietnam. Groom later dedicated his time to writing, focusing on history books about American wars. He spent his later years in Point Clear, Alabama, and Long Island, New York.