Books

2024 WIN Show – Mike and Bev at Their Final WIN Show

Monday, March 4th, 2024 | Book Signing, Books, WIN Magazine, Wrestling | No Comments

Once again, Mike and Bev will have tables full of wrestling books and memorabilia for sale at the WIN/Fan Expo during the Division 1 NCAA Championships. The Expo will be held March 21-23 at the Kansas City Convention Center a few blocks from the wrestling arena, and 20,000 fans are expected to attend the Fan Expo over the three days.

It will be the final WIN Show for Mike and Bev, after creating it back in 1992 to offer fans a good place to gather between sessions of the tournament, the biggest showcase for amateur wrestling in the U.S. The first WIN Show had four exhibitors and drew about 600 fans. The special guests were two true legends – Dan Hodge of Oklahoma and Verne Gagne of Minnesota.

The show continued to grow rapidly through the years, and among the great guests they brought to the event were Doug Blubaugh, Bill Smith, Dan Gable, Randy Couture, Kurt Angle, Lee Kemp, John and Ben Peterson, Wayne Baughman, Wade Schalles, and many more!

“Bev and I have been honored to be a part of the show for over three decades, and we have truly enjoyed meeting all the fans that have made their way to our tables,” says Mike. “But the time has come for me to call it a day. At age 80, it’s just too difficult to prepare and set up. Kansas City will be our last WIN Show”.     

They will have many of Mike’s 32 books for sale, along with various wrestling items, some quite rare.



Their special guests on Saturday will be Ed and Lou Banach, the legendary brothers who played a huge role in the success of the Iowa program in the early 1980s, during the glory years of the Dan Gable era.  Ed was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist, at 177 and 190, and still today is the career Iowa leader with 73 pins. Lou was a two-time NCAA champion and three-time All-American at heavyweight despite being outweighed in almost every match.

Both used a wide-open, go-for-broke style that made them fan favorites all around the country. Lou pinned such great wrestlers as NCAA champions Bruce Baumgartner and Tab Thacker, and four-time All-American Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. Thacker weighed over 400 pounds when Lou pinned him in the 1983 NCAA meet.

To top off their sensational careers, both of them won gold medals in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Ed at 198 pounds and Lou at 220.

The Dan Hodge Trophy, which Mike created in 1995, will also be on display at their table. It is often called “the Heisman Trophy of wrestling” and over one million fans have seen it presented in person, at wrestling banquets and college football games.

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Mike to be featured speaker at 2022 annual Tarzan Dum Dum – June 3 and 4

Thursday, April 7th, 2022 | Book Signing, Books, Speaking, Tarzan | No Comments

For the fourth time in the last 20 years, Mike will be a featured speaker at the annual Dum Dum, which will be held at the Drury Plaza Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, June 2 – 4, 2022. The annual event is hosted by the Burroughs Bibliophiles to honor the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan and John Carter, Warlord of Mars.  Burroughs wrote 24 Tarzan books and the character has been featured in over 50 films.   The convention is open to the public both days for a $5 ticket. The Huckster Room will have over a dozen exhibitors with many rare Tarzan memorabilia items on display and for sale. At the closing banquet on June 4, Mike will talk about two movie Tarzans and the books he wrote about them — Herman Brix (aka Bruce Bennett) and Glenn Morris. Brix was a silver medal winner in the shot put in the 1928 Olympics and was a football star at the U of Washington, playing in the Rose Bowl. He made his two Tarzan films in the mid 1930s, portraying the ape-man as an intelligent and literate jungle hero, like in the books. He changed his name to avoid being typecast and starred in nearly 100 movies as Bruce  Bennett, including blockbusters “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and  “Mildred Pierce.” Mike spent 5 days interviewing Bruce in his Hollywood home and wrote the book, called “Please Don’t Call Me Tarzan”  in 2001.  Glenn Morris won the gold medal in the decathlon in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and played Tarzan in 1938. He served in World War II and suffered post traumatic stress disorder. Mike wrote his biography, called “the Gold and the Glory” in 2003. He will have both books and other Tarzan items for sale.

Details on the event can be found here: THE ERB DUM DUM DOSSIER (erbzine.com)

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Waterloo Warriors: The Inspiring Stories Behind Becker-Chapman Post 138

Sunday, March 27th, 2022 | Books | No Comments

Mike’s latest book is called “Waterloo Warriors: The Inspiring Stories Behind Becker-Chapman Post 138.” It tells the stories of two young men from Waterloo who lost their lives at age 22 while fighting for freedom’s cause in World War I. Fred Becker was a standout student-athlete at East High School and in 1916 became the very first All-American football player at the University of Iowa. It was just his sophomore year, but he signed up to serve his country in “The War to End All Wars” and was a Marine officer in France when he was killed on July 18, 1918. It is an amazing story of courage and sacrifice. Carl Chapman (ironically, no relation to Mike) was a fine athlete at West High on the other side of the river and was attending college in Amherst, MA, when he signed up and became a pilot. His plane was shot down and he died on May 3, 1918. Mike wrote the booklet (just 36 pages but with some very rare photos) as a tribute to the men – and to help raise funds for the American Legion Post named in their honor. Mike donated his time work, as well as some of the printing cost. He held a book signing at the Post last November. Anyone wishing to buy the booklet and support the Post should call Dennis Sommer, Post Historian, at 319-232-6993. The booklet is just $10.00 plus $5 for S&H – and all proceeds, 100%, go to the American Legion Becker Chapman post 138.

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Upcoming Events – Fall 2021

Tuesday, September 28th, 2021 | Book Signing, Books, Speaking, WIN Magazine, Wrestling | No Comments

October 16 – Mike and Bryan Van Kley, publisher of WIN magazine, will present the Dan Hodge Trophy to Hawkeye wrestling star Spencer Lee during halftime of the Iowa-Purdue football game October 16 at Kinnick Stadium. Mike created the Dan Hodge Trophy in 1995 as a way to honor the nation’s top college wrestler each season, similar to the Heisman Trophy in football.  In fact, the Hodge Trophy is often called “the Heisman Trophy of wresting” by media outlets. The trophy is sponsored by WIN magazine and Culture House, a company owned by Mike and Bev, and is presented by Asics.  To date, over one million sports fans have seen the Dan Hodge Trophy presented at football stadiums around the country. Spencer Lee also won the trophy in 2020 and will be going for his 4th NCAA title this season. 

November 11 – On Veterans Day, Mike will be the featured speaker at the  “One Nation Under God” banquet hosted by the Cedar Falls Exchange Club, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 7213 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls, with social hour starting at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30. His talk will center on the lives of Hawkeye stars Fred Becker and Nile Kinnick. Becker was Iowa’s first All-American football player (in 1916) and lost his life fighting during World War I on July 18, 1918. Kinnick, Iowa’s only Heisman Trophy winner, lost his life on a training flight on June 2, 1943, during World War II. Both Fred and Nile were just 22 years of age, and Mike has written about them in his book “Triumph and Tragedy”. Mike has been asked to bring many of his books for sale, as the event is just a few weeks before Christmas. Tickets are $30 and the pubic is invited but reservations must be made by Oct. 31st. Any questions, please call Dennis Kehoe at 319-464-6336 or email kehoe3@yahoo.com. 

November 12 – The Becker-Chapman American Legion Post 138 at 728 Commercial Street is hosting a dinner and an event to honor Fred Becker and Carl Chapman, the two military heroes for whom the Post is named. Mike has written a booklet telling the story of both Fred, a gradate of East High, and Carl, a graduate of West High. Fred Becker was the first All-American football player in the history of the University of Iowa, and then enlisted in the Marines to serve his country in World d War I. He was killed in heroic action along the Western Front on July 18, 1918, and was awarded the American Distinguished Service Cross, the French Coeur de Guerre, and the Belgian War Cross.  Carl, a pilot, was killed  on May 3, 1918.  Mike has donated his time and effort in writing the booklet, and will be signing copies of the booklet during the dinner. The booklet tells the stories of these two warriors and will serve as a donation for the Post. The cost is $10 per booklet.

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Our American Stories: Abe Lincoln, the Wrestler

Wednesday, June 17th, 2020 | Books, Radio, Wrestling | No Comments

At just 22 years of age, Abraham Lincoln wrestled Jack Armstrong, older and considered the toughest man in the area. Many biographers of Lincoln have felt it was a turning point in the life of the man destined to become one of the greatest figures in history.

Shown here is an artwork of the match, by Jack Bender, a nationally-known illustrator and longtime friend of Mike’s.

On the nationally-syndicated radio talk show “Our American Stories” (which has an estimated 2.5 million listeners each day), Mike spent 20 minutes discussing the match in 1831 between Lincoln and Armstrong, in the tiny frontier village of New Salem, Illinois.

Listen to the interview here: http://www.ouramericannetwork.org/story?title=The-Turning-Point-in-Abe-s-Life-A-Wrestling-Match

For more about this historic event, you can purchase the booklet “The Sport of Lincoln” which was written by Mike in 2003. It contains lots of artwork about the match. The booklet is $5 plus $4 for S&H.

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Speech at Waterloo Library on December 4

Monday, November 18th, 2019 | Book Signing, Books, Speaking | No Comments

Mike is scheduled for two talks in Waterloo on December 4, to discuss the new book that he and Don Huff have written called “Stars in Waterloo”. The first talk is at 12:00 pm and is to a private club, not open to the public. The second talk is at the Waterloo Public Library and is open to the public at no charge. It will be in meeting room AB from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Mike and Don will talk about the book, answer questions and have books for purchase.

New Book Offers Fascinating Look at Waterloo’s Past

Saturday, October 12th, 2019 | Books | 2 Comments

Mike’s new book “Stars in Waterloo”

“Stars in Waterloo” is the name of Mike’s latest book, which was co-written with Don Huff. Over the past 120 years or so, many famous persons in all walks of life— politics, sports, movies, music and more — have visited the Waterloo area.  A total of 13 presidents have have been to the city, beginning with William McKinley in 1899, as well as Billy Sunday, the most famous evangelist of the early 20th century, and Dr. Martin Luther King. Amelia Earhart gave a speech there just one year prior to beginning her fatal flight around the world in 1937, and Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in World War II who became a major movie star, was there in 1953.

“Don and I wanted to offer a look at this fascinating history of our hometown,” said Mike. “We worked on the book for nearly three years and we hope it will be a wonderful addition to the collective history of the community. We are very proud that Farmers State Bank wanted to sponsor the book.”

Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley, true icons of the Old West, came to Waterloo in 1901 and many famous western movie stars followed. Tom Mix, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers each found their way to the area at one time or another. Actress Julie Adams was born there and actor Nick Nolte lived in Waterloo for several years before arriving in Hollywood.

The book also offers stories of iconic Waterloo military figures Fred Becker, Carl Chapman, the Sullivan brothers, Admiral James Ramage and General Curly Hultman.

Top entertainers like Buddy Holly, Charley Pride and Bob Hope came to the city at various times, as did many famous baseball players on their way to the major leagues.

The book talks about Waterloo’s professional basketball, football and hockey teams, and the many successful athletes that came from here – including Olympians Dan Gable, Chuck Yagla, Bob Buzzard, wrestlers, and diver Zoe Ann Olsen. Also profiled are NFL stars Don Perkins and Reggie Roby and Rich Folkers, who spent eight years in the major leagues.

“We think readers will be amazed at the number of famous people that have come to Waterloo through the decades,” said Huff. “Not only is the book entertaining, but we believe it will be viewed as a great educational tool, as well.”

Retired from a 35-year newspaper career, Mike Chapman is a native of Waterloo who is the author of 30 books and gives speeches about Iowa history around the state. He is considered by many the nation’s leading authority on wrestling history. He and his wife, Bev, created the Dan Gable Museum and brought it to Waterloo in 2008.

Don Huff was born and raised in Waterloo and is a retired educator who was head wrestling coach at West High for many years. He and Chapman teamed up to write the biography of Bob Siddens, West High’s legendry wrestling coach, in 2012.

The cost of the book is $15 with $5 S&H, and is available by calling 641-791-3072.

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Iowa Football Legends Speech – September 16

Monday, August 5th, 2019 | Book Signing, Books, Speaking | No Comments

Four State of Iowa football players will be the subject of Mike’s talk at the Cambridge Memorial Library on Monday, September 16, starting at 6:30 p.m., in Cambridge, Iowa. He will discuss his book “Triumph and Tragedy”, which offers the inspiring stories of of Fred Becker, Iowa’s first All-American football star who died in heroic action during World War I; Jack Trice, for whom Iowa State’s stadium is named; Nile Kinnick, Iowa’s Heisman Trophy winning sensation and star of the famed Ironmen team of 1939; and Johnny Bright, the greatest athletic star in Drake University history. The speech is free and open to the public and Mike will have copies of several of his books for sale.

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Wrestling Tough, 2nd Edition – Now Available!

The 2nd edition to the popular Wrestling Tough, this new book is loaded with stories of many current stars and many behind-the-scene stories of legendary figures from the sport of Wrestling. As Dan Gable wrote, “Wrestling Tough is much more than learning about being successful on the mat. It’s for all who would like to dominate or develop a passion for any sport. Incredible reading! Get energized and be entertained at the same time!”

Order today by calling Culture House at 641-791-3072 or online through Paypal by clicking the button below




 

Journey: Reflections on 50 Years of Writing, Wrestling, Weightlifting, and Heroes – Order Today!

Order today by calling Culture House at 641-791-3072 or online through Paypal by clicking the button below

Super Book of Wrestling Trivia – Order today!

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