A prolific writer and veteran of 35 years in the newspaper business, Chapman founded the museum in 1997, when he was publisher of the Newton Daily News newspaper in Newton, Iowa. The museum was located in Newton until moving to Waterloo in January of 2007.
Mike Chapman has resigned from the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum"It's been a stimulating 11 years, with the ups and downs one would expect from such a huge undertaking," said Chapman. "I feel comfortable leaving the museum now that it has such a solid foundation for growth and success."
The museum, run by a four-person staff and a board of directors, occupies a 16,000-square foot facility at 303 Jefferson Street in the heart of Waterloo. It has drawn rave reviews from numerous supporters, including United States Congressman Bruce Braley, former Congressman James Leach and Waterloo Mayor Tim Hurley. It has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles, and on various television and radio shows.
The museum even has its own weekly show, called "On the Mat." The hour-long program runs each Wednesday on KCNZ TheFan (1650 am), and is hosted by Kyle Klingman, the museum's associate director.
The museum drew close to 8,000 people in its first year and Chapman feels the museum can pass the 10,000 mark in the years ahead.
"We have a very good base and the outreach program continues to produce great results," he said. "We have brought in dozens of school groups, fans and local clubs to the museum. One recent weekend alone, we had over 500 visitors from a kids wrestling tournament at Young Arena."
The museum recently held Frank Gotch Day on April 3, to celebrate the 100 th year anniversary of Frank Gotch, a native of Humboldt, Iowa, winning the world heavyweight wrestling championship in Chicago. All three 2008 Iowa state high school championship teams -- Ballard-Huxley, Waverly-Shell Rock and Gilbertville Don Bosco -- were honored, along with Black Hawk County state placewinners and coaches.
Olympic champions Dan Gable and Randy Lewis, world bronze medalist Tolly Thompson, legendary coach Bob Siddens and Bob Steenlage, a public speaker, author and Iowa's first four-time state champion, were among the guests of honor.
"That is the kind of event that has huge impact for the museum, at all age levels and around the state and the nation," said Chapman. "It was announced on dozens of national web sites and in major periodicals. For instance, American Profile , a newspaper supplement with a circulation of over three million, mentioned the event, and USA Today , the nation's largest newspaper, ran a story on its web site."
Chapman has served as executive director since the founding, and his wife, Bev, was office manager most of the time. Jed Brown, the president of the board, said the board faces the decision with mixed feelings.
"Mike and Bev Chapman are the reason this museum exists and we are deeply appreciative of what they have meant to the sport," said Brown. "They have worked extremely hard to give wrestling a bigger presence throughout the nation.
"We feel the museum has played a key role in the marketing of the sport and in inspiring young people to succeed in life, and we will continue that concept as we move ahead.
"The board wishes Bev and Mike the very best in anything that they do in the future."
Brown said the search for a new executive director is under way. Board member Chris McGowan, of Sioux City, IA, is heading up the search. Interested persons can contact him by email at chrisjmcgowan@aol.com .
The author of 19 books, Chapman lived in both Newton and Waterloo while running the museum. He said the commute, along with the desire to devote more time to his writing, led to his decision to resign.
"It was a tough decision, but I feel now is the right time to step down," said Chapman. "I have three new books on which I am working, and two screenplays in Hollywood that take up a lot of my attention. I enjoyed the time I was able to spend back in Waterloo, which is my hometown, but I want to focus now on my writing career.
"We appreciate the strong support the museum has gotten from the local community, and from the wrestling community at large. The museum is in good hands and is in solid shape financially, although there is always a need for fundraising. It's an on-going process that requires tender, loving care."
Other than the executive director, the museum has three full-time employees -- Kyle Klingman, associate director; Kent Sesker, marketing director, and Josh Harding, office manager. Board members besides Chapman and Brown (Omaha, Nebraska) are vice president, Jay Roberts, Waterloo, Iowa; secretary-treasurer, Bev Chapman, Newton, Iowa; Bob Buckley, of Waterloo; Tom Drake, of Cullman, Alabama; Dan Gable, of Iowa City; Major General (retired) Ken Leuer, Midland, Georgia; Chris McGowan, Sioux City, Iowa; Bill Murdock, Asheville, North Carolina; Brad Rheingans, Appleton, Minnesota, Jerry Brisco, Orlando, Florida, and Frank Santana, Des Moines, Iowa.
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