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

Click to view more testimonials…

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.

Click for more information and to buy tickets…

Tags: Jim Zabel, Nile Kinnick

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.

Read on for detail of appearances…

Tags: Iowa State Fair, National Cattle Congress, Tama Historical Society, West Bend Historical Society

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

Tags: Bob Siddens, Culture Buzz, Lowell Park, Tarzan, Triumph and Tragedy