Mike Chapman

A Touching Letter

JasonC — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:54:25 +0000

Mike received the following letter recently from a reader. It was really touching. Thank you sincerely, Mr. LaVeck, for the kind words. Mr. Chapman, I wanted to let you know how much my son and I have enjoyed your books, but in particular our experience reading “Gotch: An American Hero.” My son just turned 12 [...]

Teaching Iowa History, Results in Special Song Teaching Iowa history, results in special song

JasonC — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:50:18 +0000

Publisher’s Perspective – Volume 4, Issue 2 of Iowa History Journal Not long ago, I received a letter from Mrs. Carol Alvis, who teaches social studies at Van Buren Middle School in Keosauqua. For those not familiar with Keosauqua, it is a city of 1,100 located in very southeastern Iowa, on the Missouri border. It [...]

Iowa History Journal Volume 4, Issue 2 Now Available

JasonC — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:49:43 +0000

In 1917, Earl Caddock of Walnut, Iowa, defeated Joe Stecher of Dodge, Nebraska, to win the world heavyweight wrestling championship. The victory catapulted Caddock into the national spotlight and made him one of the most popular athletes in the entire nation. Shortly after, he signed up to fight in World War I and eventually suffered [...]

Mike Discusses Earl Caddock on No Holds Barred

JasonC — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:53:00 +0000

Mike was interviewed last Thursday on the podcast No Holds Barred, with host Eddie Goldman. You can listen to the interview below: The interview focused on Earl Caddock, his place in wrestling history, Mike’s new book, and what was going on in pro wrestling at the time he competed. The discussion continue into the long [...]

Mike Chapman Speaks on His new Book Earl Caddock: Walnut’s Wrestling Wonder

JasonC — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:51:04 +0000

Mike was on Takedown Radio with Scott Casber on January 17, talking about his new book Earl Caddock: Walnut’s Wrestling Wonder. Click the arrow below to listen to the interview: or Right click to save file. Earl Caddock emerged from an Iowa farm to become a great amateur wrestler and then heavyweight champion of the [...]

Mike’s Speaking Schedule For Early 2012

JasonC — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:26:39 +0000

Mike has a busy schedule of appearances in the coming months. January 24 – Mike will be the featured speaker at the dedication of the new Fred H. Becker Elementary School in Waterloo. The school is named after the World War I hero who graduated from East Waterloo High School in 1915 and in 1916 [...]

Iowa History Journal Volume 4, Issue 1 Now Available

JasonC — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:16:42 +0000

Carol Morris put her hometown of Ottumwa, Iowa, on the international stage in the summer of 1956 when the twenty-year-old student at Drake was crowned Miss Universe. Earlier she has won the right to compete in the world’s most famous beauty contest by winning the Miss Iowa and Miss USA competitions. After a brief career [...]

Earl Caddock is Subject of Mike’s Latest Book

JasonC — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:20:41 +0000

A new book tells the story of the life and athletic career of Earl Caddock, one of the greatest wrestlers in American history who lived most of his life in Iowa and is buried in his adopted hometown of Walnut. Frank Gotch also plays a large role in the book. CADDOCK: Walnut’s Wrestling Wonder, was [...]

Street Named For Frank Gotch

JasonC — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:09:51 +0000

A new sign for a street in Humboldt, Iowa, has been erected in honor of the great world heavyweight wrestling champion at the turn of the last century. Gotch was born and raised on a farm just south of Humboldt and claimed the town in north central Iowa as his home his entire life. The [...]

Gotch Statue In Humboldt A Reality

JasonC — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:41:04 +0000

The dream of erecting a statue of former world heavyweight wrestling champion Frank Gotch has become a reality. After 15 months of planning, which included a tireless fundraising effort, the committee has raised enough funds to hire a sculptor to begin the project. The Frank Gotch Statue Committee has signed a contract to hire sculptor [...]