Mike Discusses Triumph and Tragedy Book on Iowa Public Radio
Thursday, September 30th, 2010 | Books, Radio | No Comments
Mike was interviewed by Iowa Public Radio this past Monday. He was on the show Talk of Iowa, which airs during the work week from 10 to 11 am. This is the second time he has appeared on this program this month, with his first interview focusing on Iowa History Journal. This time he discussed his latest book, Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright.
A synopsis of the show reads:
Writing About Iowa
IPR’s Charity Nebbe speaks with Mike Chapman of Newton, author of the new book “Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright (Culture House Books). (49:00)
Author to Sign Book on Drake Legend Johnny Bright Before Home Football Game
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010 | Books, Iowa History Journal | No Comments
DES MOINES, IOWA — The legend of Johnny Bright, Drake’s greatest athletic hero, springs back to life this month as Johnny graces the cover of two new publications – a magazine and a book.
A beautiful artwork of Bright is on the cover of Iowa History Journal, a magazine that covers all aspects of Iowa history, from sports to entertainment, to business and politics, and various historical figures and events.
The Bulldog star led the entire nation in total offense in both 1949 and 1950, and was leading it again in 1951 when he was knocked out of action in one of the ugliest incidents in college football history. Bright was a first team All-American and finished fifth in the balloting of the 1951 Heisman Trophy despite missing two of the Drake games due to the incident.
Bright is also one of four Iowa football stars featured in a new book, Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright.
There will be a book signing by Mike Chapman, author of Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stores of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright, prior to Drake’s homecoming football game against Marist this Saturday.
Triumph & Tragedy Online Purchase Available
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 | Books | No Comments
Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright is available for purchase online through Paypal. The cost is $26.95 + $5 for shipping and handling.
You can also purchase by calling Culture House Books at 641-791-3072.
For details on the book view the previous post regarding it.
New book features Iowa football legends
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 | Books | No Comments
Four iconic Iowa sports figures are featured in a new book entitled Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright.
The book was written by Mike Chapman and is published by Culture House, an Iowa company that specializes in biographies. It features 57 photos, many of which have never been published before, and a foreword by Jim Zabel, legendary WHO radio sportscaster.
Triumph and Tragedy is a book that Chapman has been working on for several years. It tells the stories of four football heroes at the University of Iowa, Iowa State and Drake, each of who faced tragedy in life after excelling on the football field of competition.
Read on for more details on Becker, Trice, Kinnick, and Bright…
Johnny Bright: Drake’s Greatest Legend
Friday, September 3rd, 2010 | Columns, Iowa History Journal | No Comments
by Mike Chapman (excerpt from Iowa History Journal, Volume 2, Issue 5)
When Johnny Bright strolled onto the cozy Drake University campus in the fall of 1948, no one could have realized what was in store for the Des Moines college in particular, and the game of football in general. After his three-year varsity career wound up in 1951, Bright left a legacy of achievement that may never be matched at any college.
The dynamic, athletic young man from Indiana had it all, including a name that lent itself to visions of grandeur. And it is sad that today very few Iowa football fans even know who Johnny Bright was and what he once meant to Drake University and to the state as a whole.
National Dairy Cattle Congress
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 | Columns, Iowa History Journal | No Comments
Publisher’s Perspective – Volume 2, Issue 5 of Iowa History Journal
When I was a kid growing up in Waterloo in the 1950s, I was a city slicker that didn’t know a darn thing about farm animals and implements. Still, other than Christmas, the most exciting time of the year for me, and most kids I knew, was opening day of the National Dairy Cattle Congress. It was a huge, weeklong show that took place on the western edge of the city, and offered attractions galore, for a very wide variety of people.
It was so much more extravagant than any local fair I had ever seen that it couldn’t even be compared. It was such a big event in the 1950s that the Waterloo schools gave all students a day off to attend it. All the previous week, it was the subject of talk among all the kids in the school I attended. We laid plans for the big day off, and how much fun we were going to have.
Iowa History Journal Volume 2, Issue 5 Now Available
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
With football season kicking off all across the state of Iowa and the nation, now is the perfect time to revisit the story of one of the greatest football players in the history of our state. Johnny Bright played his first game at Drake University in the fall of 1949 – and over the next three years blazed a trail that is simply amazing.
Bright led the entire nation in total offense as a sophomore, as a junior, and was leading the nation as a senior when he suffered one of the most reprehensible occurrences in the history of college sports. Bright and the Bulldogs took a 6-0 record into Stillwater, Oklahoma, on October 20, 1951, to meet the Oklahoma A&M Aggies. What happened that day has been a dark spot ever since.
Bright was badly injured and missed two of the next three games but still finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting that year. He went on to a tremendous career in the Canadian Football League and eventually became a highly regarded educator in Edmonton, Canada.
This issue of Iowa History Journal offers the compelling story of Johnny Bright along with some fabulous pictures. You won’t want to miss it.
Iowa Public Radio Hosts Mike About Iowa History Journal
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 | Iowa History Journal, Radio | No Comments
Mike was interviewed by Iowa Public Radio on Monday. He was on the show Talk of Iowa, which airs during the work week from 10 to 11 am.
A synopsis of the show reads:
Writing About Iowa
What are the challenges and opportunities facing writers who write about Iowa people, places and events for a regional and national audience? Guests are Trevor Meers, Executive Editor, Midwest Living magazine; Mike Chapman, publisher, Iowa History Journal; and Beth Wilson, editor, The Iowan magazine. (46:30)
Iowa author, historian has booth at state fair – offering free magazines with new subscriptions
Thursday, August 12th, 2010 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
Mike Chapman, a well-known Iowa author and public speaker, will be appearing Aug. 12-22 at the Iowa State Fair, in the Iowa History Journal booth in the Ralph H. Diets Historical Museum. He will have copies of the magazine Iowa History Journal and many of his 22 books for sale.
A native of Waterloo, Chapman retired from a 35-year newspaper career in 2002 to devote his time to writing books. Among his published books are Lowell Park, a novel about Ronald Reagan as a lifeguard in Dixon, Illinois, in the summer of 1932, and Gotch: An American Hero, the story of the Humboldt, Iowa, native who was world heavyweight wrestling champion from 1908 to 1915.
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!
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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