Joe Fornear is a graduate of Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh.  While attending Penn State Behrend, Fornear was a key member of the baseball team under coach Clarence Stoner.  Throughout his four-year career, Fornear was the most prolific power hitter in Penn State Behrend history. 

He currently holds career records for home runs (15), runs batted in (77), and triples (10).  Also, he is a close second in single season batting average at .484.  He was an all-district baseball selection in 1981 and 1982, and the cleanup hitter on the District-18 Championship team in 1981.

After graduating from Penn State Behrend, Fornear attended the Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned his master's of theology in 1989.  Fornear is married, has two children, and is the Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Dallas, Texas.