Kinnick Documentary to Play in Newton with Q&A Session

Thursday, September 15th, 2022 | Other, Speaking | No Comments

Dawn and Paul Bleeker, owners of the Capitol II Theater in Newton, have announced that Mike will be a special guest for two showings of the Kinnick documentary on Wednesday, September 21, and will hold a question-and-answer session after each of the two showings. The first showing is at 6:30 pm and is open to the public, with the Q&A to follow. The second showing is just for members of the Newton High School football program, and starts at 7 p.m. with the Q&A session to follow.  Scott Siepker, known as the “Iowa Nice Guy”, is the producer of the documentary and will also be at the Q&A sessions.

In addition, Mike will have some rare Nile Kinnick items on display in the lobby prior to the showings, beginning at 5:30 pm.

Tags: Nile Kinnick, nile kinnick documentary

Mike and Nile Kinnick

Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 | Other | No Comments

A very professional film group in Iowa has made a stunning documentary about Nile Kinnick, Iowa’s 1939 Heisman Trophy winner who lost has life in World War II at the age of 24, and Mike was honored to play a key role in the production.

It has been getting rave reviews and sellout crowds at  a huge movie theater in Des Moines. In fact,  it drew the largest audiences of any movie playing in all the movie houses in the Des Moines area over the August 26-27 weekend.

Bev and Mike went with his son Jason and his wife Mindy on the opening night and were greeted by producer Scott Siepker, and given the red carpet treatment.

The film begins with Mike telling the story of what Ronald Reagan told him in a face to face meeting in 1990, about Nile Kinnick. President Reagan had worked at WHO radio station in Des Moines in 1937, broadcasting Iowa football  games,when Nile was a sophomore., and he is seen throughout the film.

“It’s a wonderful tribe to a great man, and takes us back to a time in America that we should all know about,” said Mike. It is available on Vimeo right now.

The trailer is viewable below:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/737322694?h=7554cd1fa4

Tags: Kinnick Documentary, Nile Kinnick, Scott Siepker

Governor Branstad Visits Rocky Marciano Memorial Site

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 | Other | No Comments

On October 20, former Iowa governor Terry Branstad (left) and recent Ambassador to China, stopped in Newton to visit Mike (right) and see the Rocky Marciano Memorial site for the first time. The memorial was made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Governor Branstad History Fund. A ceremony was held on August 30, 2019, for the unveiling of the sign and rock but Ambassador Branstad was living in Beijing at the time.

Marciano was 49-0 with 43 knockouts when he retired in 1956 and he was on his way from Chicago to Des Moines for a private party when the small plane he was riding in crashed in Newton on August 31, 1969. Also killed were a Frankie Farrell, a family friend from Des Moines, and the pilot, Glenn Belz.

To mark the sad event and celebrate Rocky’s life, Mike led a charge to have an area, including an informational sign and rock with Rocky’s name and image on it, posted along Highway 14, entering the city. Governor Kim Reynolds declared August 30 as “Rocky Marciano Remembrance Day” and guest speakers were Mayor Mike Hansen, wrestling icon Dan Gable, former national Golden Gloves boxing champion Steve Eden of Cedar Rapids, and Mike, who also read a letter from Rocky’s son in Florida.

Tags: Governor Branstad, Rocky Marciano, Terry Branstad