Speech on Nile Kinnick and Earl Caddock

Monday, October 24th, 2022 | Speaking, Wrestling | No Comments

On Nov. 13, Mike will the the guest speaker at  the annual fundraiser of the Cass County Historical Museum in Griswold, Iowa, located in the far southwest part of the state. Mike will talk about two Iowa legends — Nile Kinnick in football and Earl Caddock in wrestling. Kinnick, considered the greatest football player in state history and winner of the 1939 Heisman Trophy, lost his life during World War II, while Caddock, one of the state’s greatest wrestlers, suffered lung damage from a gas attack while serving in the army during World War I, but returned home to Walnut, Iowa. He was a three-time AAU national champion who in 1917 became world heavyweight champion in the professional ranks, when the matches were still legitimate. Mike has written books about both men, and he will have some of his 32 books on sale afterwards.

The event is open to the public and free of charge, but donations are accepted. The talk starts at 2 p.m. in the museum, located in the center of town.

Tags: Cass County Iowa, Earl Caddock, Nile Kinnick

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:

Tags: Kinnick Documentary, Nile Kinnick, Scott Siepker

Upcoming Events – Fall 2021

Tuesday, September 28th, 2021 | Book Signing, Books, Speaking, WIN Magazine, Wrestling | No Comments

October 16 – Mike and Bryan Van Kley, publisher of WIN magazine, will present the Dan Hodge Trophy to Hawkeye wrestling star Spencer Lee during halftime of the Iowa-Purdue football game October 16 at Kinnick Stadium. Mike created the Dan Hodge Trophy in 1995 as a way to honor the nation’s top college wrestler each season, similar to the Heisman Trophy in football.  In fact, the Hodge Trophy is often called “the Heisman Trophy of wresting” by media outlets. The trophy is sponsored by WIN magazine and Culture House, a company owned by Mike and Bev, and is presented by Asics.  To date, over one million sports fans have seen the Dan Hodge Trophy presented at football stadiums around the country. Spencer Lee also won the trophy in 2020 and will be going for his 4th NCAA title this season. 

November 11 – On Veterans Day, Mike will be the featured speaker at the  “One Nation Under God” banquet hosted by the Cedar Falls Exchange Club, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 7213 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls, with social hour starting at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30. His talk will center on the lives of Hawkeye stars Fred Becker and Nile Kinnick. Becker was Iowa’s first All-American football player (in 1916) and lost his life fighting during World War I on July 18, 1918. Kinnick, Iowa’s only Heisman Trophy winner, lost his life on a training flight on June 2, 1943, during World War II. Both Fred and Nile were just 22 years of age, and Mike has written about them in his book “Triumph and Tragedy”. Mike has been asked to bring many of his books for sale, as the event is just a few weeks before Christmas. Tickets are $30 and the pubic is invited but reservations must be made by Oct. 31st. Any questions, please call Dennis Kehoe at 319-464-6336 or email kehoe3@yahoo.com. 

November 12 – The Becker-Chapman American Legion Post 138 at 728 Commercial Street is hosting a dinner and an event to honor Fred Becker and Carl Chapman, the two military heroes for whom the Post is named. Mike has written a booklet telling the story of both Fred, a gradate of East High, and Carl, a graduate of West High. Fred Becker was the first All-American football player in the history of the University of Iowa, and then enlisted in the Marines to serve his country in World d War I. He was killed in heroic action along the Western Front on July 18, 1918, and was awarded the American Distinguished Service Cross, the French Coeur de Guerre, and the Belgian War Cross.  Carl, a pilot, was killed  on May 3, 1918.  Mike has donated his time and effort in writing the booklet, and will be signing copies of the booklet during the dinner. The booklet tells the stories of these two warriors and will serve as a donation for the Post. The cost is $10 per booklet.

Tags: carl chapman, Fred Becker, Hodge Trophy, Nile Kinnick, Spencer Lee, Triumph and Tragedy