Mike’s Speaking Schedule For Early 2012
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 | Book Signing, Speaking | No Comments
Mike has a busy schedule of appearances in the coming months.
January 24 – Mike will be the featured speaker at the dedication of the new Fred H. Becker Elementary School in Waterloo. The school is named after the World War I hero who graduated from East Waterloo High School in 1915 and in 1916 became the very first All-American football player in the history of the University of Iowa. Mike “discovered” the Becker story and used a photo of him on the cover of Iowa History Journal, then wrote a book that featured Becker. The book, entitled Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Iowa Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright, will be available for purchase at the event in Waterloo, with Mike signing copies of the book for anyone who wishes to buy one. The event starts at 6 p.m. and is open to the public.
February 3- Mike will make a return visit to the Burlington Library to speak about famous Iowans. The event starts at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public. Mike spoke there last year and was invited back by the program chairman. Cancelled
February 26 – Mike will be the guest speaker for the father and son banquet at the Windsor Heights Lutheran Church in Des Moines. The event starts at 6 p.m.
March 2 – Mike will be the guest speaker at Adel High School for a “Character Counts” event, talking about Nile Kinnick and Fred Becker. A native of Adel, Nile Kinnick won the Heisman Trophy while playing football at Iowa and perished during a training flight during World War II. Mike will have copies of his book Triumph and Tragedy at the event.
March 15-17 – Mike and Bev will be at the WIN Memorabilia Show for the 22nd straight year, They created the show over two decades ago and it has become a tradition for fans between sessions of the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Nearly 8,000 fans visited the show during its three day run in Philadelphia last year and this year’s event will be in St. Louis. The guests this year include nearly a dozen World and Olympic wrestling champions. The event is free and open to the public.
April 12 – Mike will be the guest speaker at the Toledo Library, talking about famous Iowans and signing copies of his books. The event starts at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.
May 18 – The Winnie Hawks is a large group of Winnebago owners who hold annual meetings around the country. This year’s meeting will be in Oskaloosa, starting at 6 p.m., and Mike will be the guest speaker, talking about famous Iowans.
Any group interested in having Mike be a speaker can contact him at 641-791-3072, or check the contact page.
Iowa History Journal Volume 4, Issue 1 Now Available
Monday, January 16th, 2012 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
Carol Morris put her hometown of Ottumwa, Iowa, on the international stage in the summer of 1956 when the twenty-year-old student at Drake was crowned Miss Universe. Earlier she has won the right to compete in the world’s most famous beauty contest by winning the Miss Iowa and Miss USA competitions. After a brief career in show business, Carol married and settled in to a Texas lifestyle and more or less disappeared from the scene. Michael Swanger caught up with her recently and in an exclusive interview she recalls those magic days of long ago.
Readers will also be treated to feature stories on Humboldt’s Harry Reasoner who gained considerable fame for his roles as a television news anchor; the amazing story of an Iowa bred horse named Alix, the most famous race horse in America in the 1880s, and the story of a United States Senator who helped save President Andrew Johnson from being removed from office.
Also included in this issue:
- In basketball and in life, Iowa basketball star and coach, Sharm Scheuerman was a real hero
- How the city of Clear Lake got its name and the many famous people who have played a part in its history
- Viking Pump of Cedar Falls has just celebrated 100 years of incredible success and now has its own museum
- A book review of the devastating flood that ravaged much of eastern Iowa in 2008
- The Iowa History Quiz
- Columns by our regulars – Arvid Huisman, John McNeer and Mike Chapman
…and much more!
Earl Caddock is Subject of Mike’s Latest Book
Saturday, January 14th, 2012 | Books, Wrestling | No Comments
A new book tells the story of the life and athletic career of Earl Caddock, one of the greatest wrestlers in American history who lived most of his life in Iowa and is buried in his adopted hometown of Walnut. Frank Gotch also plays a large role in the book.
CADDOCK: Walnut’s Wrestling Wonder, was written by Mike Chapman, noted wrestling author and historian, and published by Culture House Books of Newton, in cooperation with the city of Walnut.
Earl Caddock came off an Iowa farm to become a great amateur wrestler and then won the world heavyweight championship of professional wrestling, back when the sports was a true athletic contest. He was an AAU national champion, in 1914 and 1915, but the cancellation of the 1916 Olympics ended his amateur career.
With Frank Gotch of Humboldt, Iowa, acknowledged as the top athlete in America at the time, Caddock decided to follow Gotch into professional wrestling. On April 9, 1917, he took a perfect record of 79-0 (53-0 as an amateur and 26-0 as a pro) into the ring in Omaha to take on the world champion, Joe Stecher. After more than two hours of grueling wrestling, Earl Caddock emerged as the heavyweight champion of the world.
Street Named For Frank Gotch
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 | Wrestling | No Comments
A new sign for a street in Humboldt, Iowa, has been erected in honor of the great world heavyweight wrestling champion at the turn of the last century. Gotch was born and raised on a farm just south of Humboldt and claimed the town in north central Iowa as his home his entire life. The renaming of the street came at the request of the Frank Gotch Statue Committee, which is raising funds to build a statue to Gotch in Bicknell Park. Gotch Avenue runs in front of the park area. Gotch died in his Humboldt home on December 16, 1917, and is buried in Union Cemetery northwest of town. He is the most famous citizen ever produced by the town and the committee worked with the city council to get the street named in his honor.
Gotch Statue In Humboldt A Reality
Friday, December 2nd, 2011 | Newspaper, Wrestling | No Comments
The dream of erecting a statue of former world heavyweight wrestling champion Frank Gotch has become a reality.
After 15 months of planning, which included a tireless fundraising effort, the committee has raised enough funds to hire a sculptor to begin the project.
The Frank Gotch Statue Committee has signed a contract to hire sculptor Jeff Adams of Oregon, Illinois, to create a bronze statue of Gotch, to be placed at Bicknell Park in Humboldt, the historic training site for Frank Gotch in the early 1900s.
The eight-foot tall bronze statue of Gotch will be placed on a three-foot base. The project is expected to be completed by next summer, with a final date and unveiling ceremony yet to be determined.
The committee has raised enough money to begin the project, but there are still bricks available to any person or groups wanting to have their name on a brick that will be part of the landscaping around the museum. Among those who have purchased bricks are three Olympians and several former professional wrestling champions.
Iowa History Journal Volume 3, Issue 5 Now Available
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
Meredith Willson marched his way into immortality (with 76 trombones leading the way) with his hit play and movie “The Music Man”. Willson grew up in Mason City, Iowa, and used his hometown as the backdrop for the fictional town of River City, Iowa, in the play. The movie debuted in Mason City on June 9, 1962, and today the city has returned the favor with the Music Man Square in downtown Mason City. Willson was a major success in the entertainment world for decades and John Skipper, noted Mason City journalist, has written a riveting story for the current issue of Iowa History Journal. There are several powerful photographs that tell the story of Meredith Willson’s impact on his beloved hometown.
Readers will also be treated to feature stories on the fabulous Salisbury House, a castle in the heart of Des Moines; the restored Orpheum Theater in Marshalltown; the Kinze Manufacturing Company near Interstate 80, west of Williamsburg, and how Gene Baker of Davenport made his mark with the Chicago Cubs in the 1950s. Also included in this issue:
- Samuel Kirkwood became Iowa governor in 1860 just as Abraham Lincoln took over as President, and then was talked into serving again despite his own reluctance
- How the city of Mitchellville came by its name
- Review of a book called the Quiet Hero, about Kenny Ploen and his role in leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to their Rose Bowl victory in 1957
- The Iowa History Quiz
- Columns by our regulars – Arvid Huisman, John McNeer and Mike Chapman
…and much more!
Speaking Testimonials
Monday, August 29th, 2011 | Speaking | No Comments
Mike has been busy this year giving speeches all across the state. If you’re looking for a speaker for your event, consider bringing Mike in to talk about a number of topics covered in the Speaking section of the site. Here are some testimonials that have come in over the past year:
“Mike Chapman presented our club with a lively, laugh-filled, eye-opening review of famous Iowans, from Nile Kinnick to Dan Gable and everyone in between. Plus, he offered an unforgettable travelogue about his long-sought visit to the Plain of Troy. He is perfect for all kinds of organizations because his style and material are fresh, funny and a delight to hear!”
Kathie Swift, President,
The Friendship Force of Greater Des Moines
“Mike Chapman…is undoubtedly one of the best speakers I have heard for a long, long time. The whole group felt that way and lined up to visit with him after the meeting. His great wife Bev also came with him.”
Nancy Johns,
Program chair, Northwest Rotary, Urbandale, Iowa
A Conversation on Nile Kinnick
Friday, August 19th, 2011 | Speaking | No Comments
Mike will be one of the featured speakers at an event this weekend to raise money for a Nile Kinnick Museum in Adel. The event starts at 7 pm in Adel and will also feature comments from Jim Zabel, via teleconference, and host Jim Miller.
A kick-off event is scheduled for Saturday, August 20th, at 7:00 p.m. at the ADM High School Auditorium for the Nile Kinnick Institute & Museum project. “A Conversation on Nile Kinnick, with Jim Zabel, Mike Chapman & Jon Miller” will be an informative and entertaining evening featuring three of Iowa’s most noted sports broadcasters and journalists. It will also be an opportunity for people to learn more about this exciting project for Adel.
Upcoming Events This Summer and Fall
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 | Book Signing, Iowa History Journal, Speaking | No Comments
Mike has a busy summer lined up, with a variety of speeches and appearances. He and Bev will be at the Iowa State Fair for 11 straight days (August 11-21) in the Iowa History Journal booth at the Varied Industries Building, along with several columnists and writers for IHJ. The booth will have most of the back issues of IHJ for sale, as well as many of Mike’s 22 books – including his latest book, Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Iowa Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright, The book makes a perfect gift for anyone as Iowa colleges head into football season this fall.
Working at the booth at some point during the 11 days will be Arvid Huisman, longtime newspaper veteran and author of the book Country Roads; John McNeer, who writes the IHJ column “The Way We Were”, and feature writers Bill Sherman and Jessica Lowe. None of the dates are pinned down yet but we will post them as soon as they are.
Frank Gotch Open House in Humboldt
Friday, May 27th, 2011 | Newspaper, Wrestling | No Comments
A story ran in the Humboldt Independent this week detailing the fundraising efforts of the committee formed to raise a statue in Gotch’s home town. Mike was the emcee at the event.
Gotch event raises funds and spirits
Frank Gotch open house puts group halfway to goal
By Kent ThompsonFrank Gotch would have been humbled by last Thursday’s outpouring of support.
Members of the Frank Gotch Project Committee were proud.
About 140 people turned out Thursday, May 19, at Rustix Restaurant and Reception for a Frank Gotch Open House.
The event brought out wrestling stars from the past, as well as University of Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands, for autographs, mingling and photographs.
Gotch Committee member Tonya Harklau reported that $4,000 in memorial brick pavers were sold along with $6,706 in glass mugs, souvenirs and silent auction items, making for a very successful kickoff fundraiser.
Upcoming Speeches and Appearances
- January 24, 2012 – Fred Becker Elementary School Dedication
- February 26, 2012 – Father/Son Banquet - Windsor Heights Lutheran Church
- March 2, 2012 – Adel High School "Character Counts" Event
- March 15, 2012 – WIN Memorabilia Show
- April 12, 2012 – Toledo Public Library
- May 18, 2012 – Winnie Hawks
Calendar of Appearances
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| 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Fred Becker Elementary School DedicationTriumph and Tragedy Available – $26.95 plus shipping!
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