Reagan Birthday Celebration and Book Signing

Friday, February 4th, 2011 | Book Signing, Books, Radio | 1 Comment

Fort Des Moines is hosting a special celebration this Sunday at 2 p.m. in honor of Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday, and Mike Chapman has been invited to participate and hold a book signing. While working at WHO Radio in Des Moines, young Ron Reagan earned his commission at Fort Des Moines as a Second Lieutenant in 1937. Featured films include “Rear Gunner”, “For God and Country”, and “Jap Zero”. There will be birthday cake and jelly beans! Tickets are $5 per person and are available at the door.

Mike is the author of 22 books, one of them an historical novel about Ronald Reagan as a lifeguard in the summer of 1932. The book, entitled Lowell Park, tells of a young Iowa graduate student, Jenny Brix, who gets a chance to travel back in time and meet Mr. Reagan when he was known as “Dutch.” However, the time machine malfunctions and Jenny goes to the same very same location in 1832 — where a young Abe Lincoln is serving in the Black Hawk War. Jenny eventually winds up in 1932 and falls for Dutch, and then the trouble begins!

Click for more details…

Tags: Fort Des Moines, Lowell Park, Ronald Reagan, WHO Radio

Mike Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Monday, January 10th, 2011 | Awards, Wrestling | No Comments

On January 1, 2011, Missouri Wrestling Revival announced that Mike is the recipient of its 2011 Award for Lifetime Achievement for professional wrestling. Here is a little bit of what the web site had to say about the honor:

“Mike has represented the Midwest and the wrestling world with class and honor by promoting the sport as a public speaker, an author of 21 books (14 about wrestling), the creation of a great wrestling museum, and his work has appeared in dozens of national and regional magazines.”

It is the fifth such “Lifetime Achievement” type award for Mike, the others being:

• Cauliflower Alley Club (CAC) Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001;
• The Burroughs Bibliophiles Award in appreciation of work for perpetuating the memory of Edgar Rice Burroughs and his works, 2004;*
• National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Order of Merit for lifetime achievement, 2007;
• The President’s Award from the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, for contributions to high school wrestling in the state of Iowa, 2007.

* Edgar Rice Burroughs was the creator of Tarzan and John Carter, Warlord of Mars.

Bob Siddens Book Signing

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 | Book Signing, Wrestling | No Comments

Bob Siddens, Don Huff and Mike Chapman will be at an author’s table during the National Duals in Cedar Falls this weekend, signing copies of the new book, SIDDENS! Win With Humility, Lose With Dignity… But Don’t Lose!”, co-authored by Don and Mike. Mike will also have several of his other books at the table. Please stop by to meet Bob, Don and Mike!

Tags: Bob Siddens, National Duals

New Book About Legendary High School Coach Bob Siddens

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 | Books, Wrestling | 1 Comment

Working in collaboration with Don Huff, longtime wrestling coach at West Waterloo High School, Mike Chapman has co-authored a new book entitled SIDDENS! Win With Humility, Lose With Dignity… But Don’t Lose!”

The book is the biography of Bob Siddens, regarded in some circles as the greatest high school wrestling coach in American history!

Bob Siddens led West Waterloo High School to 11 Iowa state wrestling championships and seven second-place finishes in his 27-year coaching career. Along the way, his teams had 14 undefeated seasons and a winning streak of 88 in a row! His coaching style and leadership impacted thousands of young students.

Read for details about the book and ordering…

Tags: Bob Siddens