Upcoming Schedule for Mike

Thursday, September 13th, 2012 | Iowa History Journal, Speaking, Wrestling | No Comments

October 4 – Mike will be part of the program at the prestigious RaySociety, a community of lifelong learners from a variety of backgrounds who share a common interest in continuing to seek learning experiences and intellectual stimulation. The organization is supported by Drake University and named for two distinguish graduates, Robert D. and Billie Ray, the former governor and first lady of Iowa. Mike will be speaking at the “Extraordinary Iowans” discussion on Thursday at 1:30 pm in the Hall of Pride.

October 18 — Mike will be making a double appearance on this day in Charles City. In the afternoon, he will talk to a group of high school students about the great athletic tradition in the state of Iowa, concentrating on the legends of Nile Kinnick and Frank Gotch. That evening, he will be the guest speaker at the Floyd County Community Foundation (FCCF) banquet.

October 20 – For the second year in a row, Mike will be the guest speaker at the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions event in Minneapolis. Each year, the hall of fame inducts outstanding Greco-Roman wrestlers into the hall of champions. Mike will give a talk on the importance of understanding the sport’s rich and vital heritage, dating all the way back to Jacob wrestling the Angel in the Bible. For details, people can call the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo.

November 18 – Steve Knight has invited Mike to be the guest speaker at the Excel Wrestling “Hall of Heroes” banquet at the Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines. Several annual awards will be given out and Bill Smith, 1952 Olympic champion, will be the main honoree. Bill was also an undefeated, two-time NCAA champion during his career at Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI). Originally from Council Bluffs, Bill now lives in Bode, Iowa. The cost for dinner is $50 per plate. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Excel Wrestling office at 515-331-4419

Tags: Extraordinary Iowans, Flow County Community Foundation, Frank Gotch, Nile Kinnick, RaySociety

Iowa History Journal Volume 4, Issue 5 Now Available

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments

Jean Seberg has emerged in recent years as one of the most enigmatic figures in Iowa history. In the latest issue of Iowa History Journal, Michael Swanger explores the many aspects of the life and career of this film legend. Swanger traces her life from humble origins in Marshalltown to her stunning selection by legendary producer, Otto Preminger, to star in the movie “St. Joan” and through her storied career in Hollywood and overseas. He discusses the role the FBI played in the later stages of her life and her tragic death at the age of 40, which is still a subject of controversy today.

Readers will also be treated to feature stories on many other fascinating persons and moments in Iowa history – ranging from a bank robbery in Adel that could have influenced history in many ways to the famous candy company begun by the Stovers.

Also included in this issue:

• The history of covered bridges in Madison County
• The reemergence of a beautiful theatre in Toledo
• An Iowa restaurant which has been in existence for 172 years
• A tough baseball manager with strong Iowa connections
• More Iowans involved with the Titanic tragedy
• The city of Humboldt honors Frank Gotch with a statue
• Columns by our regulars – Arvid Huisman, John McNeer and Mike Chapman

…and much more!

Contents
3 – Publisher’s Perspective: Story of a miracle that began in Iowa by Mike Chapman
4 – Jean Seberg’s legacy soaring again at home by Michael Swanger
9 – Bank robbery in Adel could have had huge impact on Iowa history by Mark Hanson
12 – Famous candy company has roots in Iowa by John Skipper
13 – Country Roads: Names of Iowa of towns can be confusing by Arvid Huisman
14 – Humboldt statue honors Frank Gotch
18 – Tough baseball manager was a hero to many Iowans by Jim Young
21 – Covered Bridges were hot long before the famous movie by Mary Halstrum
23 – The Way We Were: Remember when TV arrived on the scene by John McNeer
25 – After 100 years, Toledo still has a beautiful theatre by Jeff Stein
27 – Kalmes family has been serving Luxembourg fair for 172 years by Jessica Dunker
29 – More Iowas involved in Titanic tragedy
31 – Iowa History Quiz
36 – Letters to the Editor

Visit IowaHistoryJournal.com to subscribe!

Tags: Covered Bridges, Jean Seberg, Madison County, Stovers, Wieting Theater

Gotch unveiling makes an ‘unforgettable’ event

Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 | Speaking, Wrestling | No Comments

According to Mac Davis, author of the 1954 book 100 Greatest Sports Heroes, when Frank Gotch died in 1917, “thousands of weeping mourners, gathered from many parts of the land, trudged the icy path to the little rural cemetery on a cold December day to bid a final farewell to the farm boy who had been the greatest wrestling champion in history.”

Some 95 years later, on July 4, some 400 fans endured brutally hot temperatures to see a magnificent statue of Gotch unveiled in his hometown of Humboldt, Iowa. The eight-foot tall bronze statue shows Gotch in black tights and top, with hands on hips, gazing out over the land. It stands on a three-foot pedestal in Bicknell Park, the very spot where Gotch trained for his epic match with George Hackenschmidt, The Russian Lion, in 1911.

The statue is surrounded by a brick walkway, with four thick benches at each of the corners. Behind the area, the Des Moines River flows peacefully, just thirty yards away and down a steep bluff – offering a very picturesque setting.

“It was a day that anyone who was there will never forget,” said Scott Casber, owner/founder of Takedown Wrestling Radio. “July 4, 2012, was a great moment in the history of wrestling.”

Continue reading…

Tags: Frank Gotch, Humboldt

Iowa History Journal Volume 4, Issue 4 Now Available

Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments

The state of Iowa has a long and proud history of involvement in the Olympic Games, dating all the way back to 1904. In a fascinating article written by Don Doxsie, long time sports editor of the Quad City Times and a winner of many writing awards, that Olympic history is discussed in detail. Doxsie has done considerable research and also compiled two graphs – one of which shows which sports Iowans have won medals in, and the other which has a year-by-year breakdown of Iowa medal winners since 1904.

Readers will also be treated to feature stories on many other fascinating persons and moments in Iowa history – ranging from the piano talents of the legendary Roger Williams to the pilot who dropped the atomic bomb on Japan in 1945……to the meteorite that struck what is present day Manson almost 74 million years ago.

Also included in this issue:

• The Honey War between Iowa and Missouri that almost resulted in a real-life battle between the bordering states.
• The story of the Iowa-born attorney and judge who brought down Al Capone, one of the most notorious gangsters in American history.
• How the Wolfe Eye Clinic started from humble origins and developed into one of the top eye health care facilities in the nation.
• A book review on Little Heathens which is a delightful journey back into rural Iowa in the 1930s.
• Columns by our regulars – Arvid Huisman, John McNeer and Mike Chapman

…and much more!

Contents
3 – Publisher’s Perspective: Olympic legend Mathias recalled by Mike Chapman
4 – Olympic dreams blossom in Iowa over the decades by Don Doxsie
7 – Corydon still honors hero from 1932: by Mike Chapman
19 – Bill Smith is UNI’s only Olympic champion
11 – Pilot who dropped atomic bomb had roots in Iowa by Jeff Stein
13 – Country Roads: By whatever name, cricks are beautiful by Arvid Huisman
14 – Meteorite was a big hit ….74 million years ago by John Skipper
17 – Piano talents were Rogers Williams’ path to the top by Robert Weast
20 – The Iowans who brought down infamous Capone by Al Nelson
24 – The Way We Were: Ice cream was a very special treat by John McNeer
25 – Wolfe Eye Clinics started in 1919 in Marshalltown by Pete Hussmann
27 – Iowa almost fought Missouri in ‘Honey War’ by Kyle Martin
29 – Book Review: Little Heathens tells of Iowa life many years ago by Mike Chapman
31 – Iowa History Quiz
36 – Letters to the Editor

Visit IowaHistoryJournal.com to subscribe!

Tags: Bob Mathias, Iowa Olympians, Little Heathens, Manson Meteorite, Roger Williams, Wolfe Eye Clinic