The Day Tarzan Came Home to Iowa

Thursday, January 14th, 2010 | Columns, Iowa History Journal, Wrestling | No Comments

This is the Publisher’s Perspective column from Volume 2, Issue 1 of Iowa History Journal:

During my long career in journalism I’ve had the opportunity to meet many interesting personalities … from President Ronald Reagan to boxing legend Muhammad Ali, from actors like Robert Redford and Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk” of TV fame) to super athletes like Dick Butkus and Bob Mathias.

But one of the most memorable moments came when Tarzan visited Iowa City.

I was editor of the Voice of the Hawkeyes newspaper in 1985 when Dan Gable, Iowa’s wrestling coach at the time, called me and asked if I had any ideas on who he could get to be an “honorary coach” at the upcoming wrestling match between the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones. The meet was already a very big deal back then, but he was trying to put a little extra excitement into the event and thought it would be fun to have someone special with his team on the bench.

I said, “How about a former movie Tarzan?”

“That sounds interesting,” he replied, “but what’s the connection with Iowa?”

Continue reading…

Tags: Dan Gable, Jock Mahoney, Tarzan

Iowa History Journal Volume 2, Issue 1 Now Available

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments

The January, 2010, issue features articles on the great career of Iowa basketball legend Murray Wier, former movie Tarzan Jock Mahoney of Davenport, the Younkers store dynasty, the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Spirit Lake Massacre of 1857!

Also columns by regulars Mike Chapman, Arvid Huisman and John McNeer; Iowa History Quiz, and a book review on the best-selling book “The Girls of Ames.”

The feature article in the issue is about the great Corn Palaces of Iowa.

Inside the Issue:

• The Day Tarzan came to Iowa
• Natural Royalty, Iowa’s Palaces – by Bill Sherman
• Murray Wier, the Magic Man – by Buck Turnbull
• Iowa Country Roads – Memories live on in farmhouses – by Arvid Huisman
• Rock ‘n Roll Museum … Here to stay – by Michael Swanger
• Jock Mahoney, King of the Jungle – by Mike Chapman
• Iowa Book Review on “Girls from Ames” – by Jessica Lowe
• The Way We Were – Phones once shared by everyone – by John McNeer
• Memory of the Spirit Lake Massacre – by Pete Hussmann
• Younkers’ 150-Year Heritage – by Staff Writers
• When Sleighs took over Council Bluffs – by Frank Heath
• What’s in a Name: Waverly & Bremer County
• Iowa History Quiz
• Nile Kinnick Quotes: The Power of the Bible
• Letters to the Editor

Visit IowaHistoryJournal.com to subscribe!

Tags: Corn Palaces of Iowa, Jock Mahoney, Murray Wier, Tarzan, Younkers