By KEVIN EVANS, Executive Sports Editor
WATERLOO — Mike Chapman wants to come home. He wants to bring Dan Gable with him.
Chapman, the founder and executive director of the International Wrestling Institute and Museum, wants to move that facility from Newton to Waterloo.
If that happens, it will be called the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum.
“I know there has been talk for 15 or 20 years of a way to honor Dan Gable, and this is perfect, “said Chapman, an East Waterloo graduate.
“He will have his own office there, and he has committed to have a Dan Gable day maybe every month, where he will be available to talk to groups or kids.”
Chapman founded the Institute and Museum eight years ago and decided on Newton because of its location on I-80, which sends about 9 million cars by the front door yearly.
“We’ve been getting between 5,000 and 6,000 visitors a year, “said Chapman. “But what I think we would gain in a move to Waterloo is a community with a much stronger wrestling tradition and a much larger population base.
“Plus this is Dan Gable’s hometown; it is Mike Chapman’s home town. That means a lot to me.”
The move is not a done deal. Chapman is also entertaining offers from other Iowa locations.
“Waterloo has to show us they want us, “he said. “That usually boils down to two or three different things.
“We have already had four meetings with the mayor (Tim Hurley), and we are convinced he sees the value of having here.
“Waterloo has got to step up to the plate and let us know they want us — help us make the move happen. There are some costs to making the move.
“It would probably take six months of nonstop work. We have selected a building we are very interested in, and the city will help us with that.
“The community has to let us know it wants us, and they it has to help us make the move.”
Chapman and the city are proposing the museum for 303 Jefferson, the former Inland Color Graphics, which the city owns.
Hurley said the city would work out a deal with Chapman for the museum to be there in the center of the River Renaissance, close to Young Arena.
“It is a great location. It fits in with the sports and entertainment district, “said Hurley of the 16,000-square foot structure.
Having Gable’s name on it makes the mayor even more excited.
“I really did not realize until recently there is nothing for Dan, not a street, not a trophy case, nothing, “said Hurley. “I think this would be a remarkable way to honor one of our finest citizens ever who has represented Waterloo with all of his work, not only by his actions, but by his words and character. He is not bashful in giving Waterloo credit.
“This, if we can pull it off, if the citizens respond, would be an absolutely fitting thing. Dan is excited about it.”
The city has scheduled a by-invitation only gathering tonight of nearly 400 people from Waterloo who can potentially help with the move.
Chapman, Hurley and Gable will address the group.
“A move of this nature costs money, “said Chapman, a former newspaper writer, editor and publisher. “One of the main things I do is go out and fund raise. If we decided to more to Waterloo or Des Moines, that will occupy a major part of a year for me.”
Chapman said, “I am not leaving the state of Iowa. Des Moines is still in the running, but Waterloo is way ahead, because of the interest the mayor’s office has shown.
“We are not asking for very much frankly, just for help moving and the transition stage.”
Gable’s role would only come to fruition if it lands in Waterloo.
“First of all to move the museum to somewhere else means you want to upgrade what you are trying to do, “said Gable, a former three-time prep wrestling champion at West and later an Olympic champ in 1972. “Obviously with the tradition of a town like Waterloo, with all the rivalries and championships from the past, myself included, I think it is something that could be good for the community.
“Me being from this area it gives me an a great opportunity to come back and be involved in this area.”
Putting his name on it, in his hometown, would be special, too.
“It would mean a lot, “he said.
Chapman said the museum has a lot to offer Waterloo.
“Tourism, “he said. “We’ve had visitors from all 50 states and 37 foreign countries. We bring great media exposure — we’ve been featured on MSNBC, CNN Headline News; A&E did a documentary that has played over 100 times in five years. IPTV did a special, so has Wisconsin public television. We’ve been in The Washington Post and The New York Times, and we’ve even been in the National Enquirer.
“Film crews from Tokyo and England have been there in the last year and a half.
“We also bring civic pride, being the only international museum in Iowa, and we’re bringing a package that is meant to inspire and motivate youth.”
The museum caters to school groups, Chapman said, using the history of wrestling, which dates back 5,000 years, as an educational tool focusing on working hard, dedication and discipline.
Chapman promises to resurrect the Dan Gable Classic, a freestyle wrestling event between an American team and one from overseas. Teams in the past have come from Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Russia.
“If we move to Waterloo we will have a wrestling celebration week, “said Chapman. “We will have events all week long, like the Frank Gotch 10K run, some clinics with Olympic wrestlers and other Olympians.”
In the past, the museum has had Olympians like Bob Matthias, NBA slam-dunk champ Spud Webb, baseball player Bob Feller, former Minnesota Gov. and pro wrestler Jesse Ventura and former pro wrestling great Vern Gagne participate in an annual celebrity golf event.
“We will bring energy to Waterloo, tourism, state pride and all kinds of things to do, “said Chapman, the author of 18 books.
“Dan (Gable) wants to stress he would like to see Waterloo back in its glory in athletics, in football. He loves Waterloo. It is his roots, my roots, and it would mean a lot to be able to bring this back to Waterloo.
“One of the first things Dan said to me is it isn’t just about wrestling. That is one component, but it is about bringing something neat to the community that it could rally behind.”
Contact Kevin Evans at (319) 291-1469 or [email protected].
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