Speaking
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.
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.
Mike’s May Schedule
Monday, May 9th, 2011 | Book Signing, Radio, Speaking, Wrestling | No Comments
Mike Chapman has a heavy schedule of appearances in May.
May 9 – 4:30 pm, taping of The Culture Buzz show at KFMG studio, in Des Moines. Will be played May 18th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Listen live here or listen to the archived show here, when it goes online.
May 16 – Speaking at the Noon Rotary in Waterloo, at the Five Sullivan Center. Mike will be talking about his book Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright. Fred Becker is a 1914 graduate of East High who became Iowa’s very first All-American football player in 1916, then died fighting in World War I. The newest Waterloo school will be named Fred H. Becker Elementary School.
May 17 – For the third straight year, Mike will be presenting a workshop for young writers at a Waterloo school. The event is coordinated by Donna Huff, wife of Don Huff, with whom Mike co-wrote the book SIDDENS! The purpose of the workshop is to inspire young students to get excited about history and writing.
May 19 — Mike will be one of the special guests at the Frank Gotch Statue Celebration (5-9 p.m.) and the Rustix Restaurant in Humboldt. A committee was formed six months ago with the goal of raising money for an 8-foot bronze statue of Frank to be placed at Bicknell Park in Humboldt. Gotch was world heavyweight wrestling champion from 1908 to 1915 and arguably the most popular athlete in America. Also in attendance will be Tom Brands, 1996 Olympic champion, three-time NCAA champion and head coach at Iowa; Bill Smith, 1952 Olympic champion and two-time NCAA champion at UNI; Jim Raschke, who was a big star in professional wrestling in the 1970s as Baron Von Raschke and was a national champion as an amateur AAU wrestler; Brad Rheingans, who won 8 national championships and made two Olympic teams as an amateur before becoming a professional star; Bob Steenlage, Iowa’s first four-time state champion (from Britt) and an All-American at West Point, also the subject of the popular book Fighting Back; and Bruce Reimers, a native of Humboldt who played 10 years in the National Football League and was in a Super Bowl with the Cincinnati Bengals; there will also be a silent auction.
May 24 — Mike will journey to Dixon, Illinois, the hometown of Ronald Reagan, to present a program about his historical novel, Lowell Park, and to discuss his writing career. Ronald Reagan was a lifeguard at beautiful Lowell Park for seven straight summers, and Abe Lincoln served in the Illinois militia in the same spot 100 years earlier. The book combines those two facts. It has been sold to a Hollywood movie company and is in pre-production. The talk will take place at the Dixon Library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and is open to the public. He will hold a book signing afterwards, with many of his 22 books available.
More information here: Dixon Public Library
May 27-28 – In Minneapolis, Mike will be one of several guests at the annual Edgar Rice Burroughs gathering called ECOF. Burroughs created Tarzan and many other great fictional characters. The gathering is open to the public and will feature tons of Tarzan and Burroughs related material, science fiction books, artwork, etc. There will be other authors and a famous comic artist, Mike Grell. It will be held at the Bloomington Airport Holiday Inn, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m both days. Mike has hosted three national Tarzan conventions in the past and has written books about Tarzan actors Herman Brix (aka Bruce Bennett) and Glenn Morris. He will have most of his 22 books for sale. The event is open to the public with no charge.
More information here: ECOF 2011 Flyer
Mike’s Schedule in December
Monday, December 6th, 2010 | Book Signing, Speaking | No Comments
Since the release of his latest book Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright, Mike Chapman has been a guest on 11 radio talk shows and has made speaking appearances at over a dozen locations. The book is for sale at most Barnes & Noble Stores around the state and at Borders Book Store in Des Moines.
The book is also available at Iowa Book and Supply, Prairie Lights and the Hawk Shop in Iowa City; at Beaverdale Book Store and the Iowa State Historical Museum in Des Moines, and at the Five Sullivan Brothers Museum in Waterloo.
In addition, Drake University has the book for sale and $10 from every book sold by Drake will be donated to the football team’s trip to Africa.
Anyone wanting a signed copy of the book can order it by calling the offices of Iowa History Journal in Newton at 641-792-0920. The hardcover book has 50 photos and sells for $26.95 plus S&H.
Mike Chapman will be making several appearances around the state in the coming weeks. He will be at the following spots for speeches and/or book signings:
Triumph and Tragedy Book Signing
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 | Book Signing, Books, Speaking | No Comments
Mike Chapman will hold a book signing for his new book Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright, at Beaverdale Books in Des Moines on Monday, October 25.
Beaverdale Books store, a beautiful store located at 2629 Beaver Avenue in Des Moines. The event starts at 6:30 with a brief speech by Mike about the four Iowa icons, and then a question-and-answer period, followed by the book signing.
Come Visit Mike at State Fair & Cattle Congress
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 | Iowa History Journal, Speaking | No Comments
Mike Chapman is a public speaker who has appeared at dozens of events the past several years, to talk about Iowa History Journal magazine in particular and Iowa history in general.
In the past year, he has given speeches in Des Moines, Marshalltown, Newton, Osage, Waterloo, Ankeny and Stanton, drawing rave reviews every where.
In the coming months, Mike will be appearing at the Iowa State Fair on August 12-22 and at the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo, September 16-19. You are invited to come meet Mike and his wife, Bev, and browse over the numerous books he has written (21 to date) and see the ten issues of Iowa History Journal that have been published so far. If you buy any of the books or magazines, Mike will be happy to sign them for you.
Both the books and the magazines make tremendous gifts for Iowans who live anywhere!
Speaking to Des Moines Kiwanis Club, May 28th
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 | Speaking | No Comments
Mike Chapman will present a speech entitled “The Legacy of Nile Kinnick” on Thursday, May 28, to the Kiwanis Club of Des Moines. The meeting will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Beaver Avenue and Allison Avenue (map). The speech will start at 8:30 a.m.
Nile Kinnick was the subject of a three-part series in the first three issues of Iowa History Journal, of which Mike is the publisher. Mike will have copies of all three issues for sale at the talk, as well as copies of his book, Iowans of Impact, which was published in 1983 and features Herbert Hoover, John Wayne and Nile Kinnick on the cover.
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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Father/Son Banquet - Windsor Heights Lutheran ChurchTriumph and Tragedy Available – $26.95 plus shipping!
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