"Iowa Almanac" is a copyrighted production of Stein Enterprises, L.L.C.
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Copyright 2020 by Stein Enterprises, L.L.C.
All Rights Reserved.
No use of the material is allowed without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
Copyright 2020 by Stein Enterprises, L.L.C.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, August 31, 2020
"A Legend Dies in Iowa"
Rocky Marciano was undefeated in 49 professional fights and was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1952 to 1956, when the sport's popularity was its highest. He remains the only person to hold the heavyweight title without a tie or defeat during his entire career.
He had a relentless style and great stamina, and his knockout percentage of 87.75 is one of the highest in history. He retired from the ring at age 32 and was active in television and business.
On August 31, 1969, Rocky Marciano was a passenger in a small private plane travelling from Chicago to Des Moines. He was on his way to give a speech to support a friend's son. But the weather turned bad, and the pilot tried to set the plane down on a small airfield outside of Newton. The plane hit a tree two miles short of the runway, and Rocky Marciano, the pilot, and another passenger were killed. It is still not known if the crash was caused by engine failure, pilot error, or both.
Marciano had planned to spend the night in Des Moines before returning home to celebrate his 46th birthday the next day. But a plane crash ended his life one day before that birthday, near Newton, on this date in 1969.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 31st...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"A Legend Dies in Iowa"
Rocky Marciano was undefeated in 49 professional fights and was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1952 to 1956, when the sport's popularity was its highest. He remains the only person to hold the heavyweight title without a tie or defeat during his entire career.
He had a relentless style and great stamina, and his knockout percentage of 87.75 is one of the highest in history. He retired from the ring at age 32 and was active in television and business.
On August 31, 1969, Rocky Marciano was a passenger in a small private plane travelling from Chicago to Des Moines. He was on his way to give a speech to support a friend's son. But the weather turned bad, and the pilot tried to set the plane down on a small airfield outside of Newton. The plane hit a tree two miles short of the runway, and Rocky Marciano, the pilot, and another passenger were killed. It is still not known if the crash was caused by engine failure, pilot error, or both.
Marciano had planned to spend the night in Des Moines before returning home to celebrate his 46th birthday the next day. But a plane crash ended his life one day before that birthday, near Newton, on this date in 1969.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 31st...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Friday, August 28, 2020
"From Wall Lake to the Grandstand"
Our Iowa State Fair grandstand shows are big events, with the top artists performing. They’re now the third largest moneymaker for the fair each year.
But it wasn’t always that way. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1960s that the grandstand began being used for concerts at all.
The 1965 Iowa State Fair was actually the first to feature a top-notch performer in concert. Wall Lake native Andy Williams returned to his home state at the height of his international popularity to take the grandstand stage on five consecutive nights. At the time, his national television variety program was quite popular, and he brought with him on the stage a group that regularly performed on his television program—the Osmond Brothers. That was fitting, since Andy Williams first performed with his brothers singing on the radio in the 1930s.
For the next several years, the fair booked a single top-notch act to perform on multiple nights. Several times in the 1960s and 1970s, it was the Lawrence Welk orchestra.
We now eagerly anticipate release of the list of performers who take the stage at our fair each August. But the trend started with Iowa’s own Andy Williams, who wrapped up a five night engagement at the Iowa State Fair grandstand on this date in 1965.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 28th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"From Wall Lake to the Grandstand"
Our Iowa State Fair grandstand shows are big events, with the top artists performing. They’re now the third largest moneymaker for the fair each year.
But it wasn’t always that way. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1960s that the grandstand began being used for concerts at all.
The 1965 Iowa State Fair was actually the first to feature a top-notch performer in concert. Wall Lake native Andy Williams returned to his home state at the height of his international popularity to take the grandstand stage on five consecutive nights. At the time, his national television variety program was quite popular, and he brought with him on the stage a group that regularly performed on his television program—the Osmond Brothers. That was fitting, since Andy Williams first performed with his brothers singing on the radio in the 1930s.
For the next several years, the fair booked a single top-notch act to perform on multiple nights. Several times in the 1960s and 1970s, it was the Lawrence Welk orchestra.
We now eagerly anticipate release of the list of performers who take the stage at our fair each August. But the trend started with Iowa’s own Andy Williams, who wrapped up a five night engagement at the Iowa State Fair grandstand on this date in 1965.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 28th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Thursday, August 27, 2020
"See You At The Fair"
The annual Delaware County Fair got underway on August 27th, 1912. The four day event ran from Tuesday through Friday.
Among the attractions, Miss Dorothy Devonda, a daring aeronaut who set a record for the highest flight ever made in a gas balloon. Her daily balloon ascension included double parachute drops.
Also performing, The Murdos, with their troupe of trained dogs, twice each day before the amphitheater.
Admission at the gate was 35 cents for adults and 15 cents for children…although if you bought a pass for all four days, you could get a discount.
The Manchester Democrat newspaper noted that the buildings and grounds have been put in excellent condition for the fair, and that good weather will assure one of the best fairs in history.
In that same issue of the paper was an ad for a competing attraction. Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show scheduled a performance for the last day of the fair, hoping to capitalize on the crowd already in Manchester. The Buffalo Bill show was combined with Pawnee Bill’s Great Far East Show, depicting the splendors of the Orient. Two performances, tickets were 50 cents each.
Even today, a county fair attracts a wide variety of citizens. From parachute drops from a gas balloon, to trained dogs, to Buffalo Bill…it was all in Manchester, as the Delaware County Fair got underway on this date in 1912.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 27th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"See You At The Fair"
The annual Delaware County Fair got underway on August 27th, 1912. The four day event ran from Tuesday through Friday.
Among the attractions, Miss Dorothy Devonda, a daring aeronaut who set a record for the highest flight ever made in a gas balloon. Her daily balloon ascension included double parachute drops.
Also performing, The Murdos, with their troupe of trained dogs, twice each day before the amphitheater.
Admission at the gate was 35 cents for adults and 15 cents for children…although if you bought a pass for all four days, you could get a discount.
The Manchester Democrat newspaper noted that the buildings and grounds have been put in excellent condition for the fair, and that good weather will assure one of the best fairs in history.
In that same issue of the paper was an ad for a competing attraction. Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show scheduled a performance for the last day of the fair, hoping to capitalize on the crowd already in Manchester. The Buffalo Bill show was combined with Pawnee Bill’s Great Far East Show, depicting the splendors of the Orient. Two performances, tickets were 50 cents each.
Even today, a county fair attracts a wide variety of citizens. From parachute drops from a gas balloon, to trained dogs, to Buffalo Bill…it was all in Manchester, as the Delaware County Fair got underway on this date in 1912.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 27th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Wednesday, August 26, 2020
"A Ride Across the State"
It began with a challenge. Donald Kaul wrote the “Over the Coffee” column from Washington, D.C. for The Des Moines Register. John Karras wrote features for the paper. Karras suggested that Kaul come back to Iowa and ride his bicycle across the state, writing about what he saw from that perspective. Kaul said he would, but only if Karras rode along.
And RAGBRAI was born. The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa started on August 26th, 1973 in Sioux City. That first year included overnight stays in Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Ames, Des Moines, and Williamsburg, before ending up in Davenport. It was a six-day ride then, and Kaul and Karras invited anyone who wanted to, to ride along. Three hundred riders showed up in Sioux City, growing to 500 on the stretch between Ames and Des Moines. Some 114 cyclists made it across the state with the two Register writers.
Response was so positive, another ride was held the next year. And as you know, it’s now become one of the best-known summertime traditions in Iowa, attracting people from around the world. Nearly 20,000 miles have been traveled, with more than 325,000 people taking part at one time or another.
There have been 47 rides, now held in late July every year (except this one, due to the pandemic). In fact, it’s only 332 days until the next one. But the first Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa started in Sioux City, on this date in 1973.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 26th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"A Ride Across the State"
It began with a challenge. Donald Kaul wrote the “Over the Coffee” column from Washington, D.C. for The Des Moines Register. John Karras wrote features for the paper. Karras suggested that Kaul come back to Iowa and ride his bicycle across the state, writing about what he saw from that perspective. Kaul said he would, but only if Karras rode along.
And RAGBRAI was born. The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa started on August 26th, 1973 in Sioux City. That first year included overnight stays in Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Ames, Des Moines, and Williamsburg, before ending up in Davenport. It was a six-day ride then, and Kaul and Karras invited anyone who wanted to, to ride along. Three hundred riders showed up in Sioux City, growing to 500 on the stretch between Ames and Des Moines. Some 114 cyclists made it across the state with the two Register writers.
Response was so positive, another ride was held the next year. And as you know, it’s now become one of the best-known summertime traditions in Iowa, attracting people from around the world. Nearly 20,000 miles have been traveled, with more than 325,000 people taking part at one time or another.
There have been 47 rides, now held in late July every year (except this one, due to the pandemic). In fact, it’s only 332 days until the next one. But the first Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa started in Sioux City, on this date in 1973.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 26th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, August 25, 2020
"And The Winner Is..."
Only one woman from Iowa has ever won the Miss Teen USA pageant, and it happened on August 25th, 1992.
Jamie Solinger was from Altoona. She had started modeling in magazines such as Seventeen and Glamour. She was recruited by Iowa pageant directors to enter the Miss Iowa Teen USA 1992 pageant. She won the state crown, and then competed in the national pageant in Biloxi, Mississippi. That event was noteworthy because of Hurricane Andrew, which was bearing down on Biloxi, forcing the pageant to be held early, with the national broadcast that evening actually taped for safety reasons.
Six years later, Jamie Solinger won the title of Miss Iowa USA, and the very next year, crowned her sister Jaclyn as her successor.
After she was married, Jamie Patterson won the Mrs. Iowa pageant title in 2004, and became third runner-up in the Mrs. America 2005 contest.
Iowans have only placed in the Miss Teen USA pageant four times…and the only winner, Jamie Solinger, had the crown placed on her head on this date in 1992
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 25th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"And The Winner Is..."
Only one woman from Iowa has ever won the Miss Teen USA pageant, and it happened on August 25th, 1992.
Jamie Solinger was from Altoona. She had started modeling in magazines such as Seventeen and Glamour. She was recruited by Iowa pageant directors to enter the Miss Iowa Teen USA 1992 pageant. She won the state crown, and then competed in the national pageant in Biloxi, Mississippi. That event was noteworthy because of Hurricane Andrew, which was bearing down on Biloxi, forcing the pageant to be held early, with the national broadcast that evening actually taped for safety reasons.
Six years later, Jamie Solinger won the title of Miss Iowa USA, and the very next year, crowned her sister Jaclyn as her successor.
After she was married, Jamie Patterson won the Mrs. Iowa pageant title in 2004, and became third runner-up in the Mrs. America 2005 contest.
Iowans have only placed in the Miss Teen USA pageant four times…and the only winner, Jamie Solinger, had the crown placed on her head on this date in 1992
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 25th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, August 24, 2020
"Founding The Synod"
It was on August 24, 1854, that the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Iowa and Other States was founded. That long name was typically shortened to simply "the Iowa Synod". It happened at St. Sebald in Clayton County.
The synod was formed as a result of disagreements at a settlement of pastors in Saginaw, Michigan. The pastors had been sent to America from Germany by Johann Konrad Wilhelm Lohe. The group split, with some joining the Missouri Synod, while a small group of others moved to Iowa. They were led by Georg Grossman and Johannes Deindoerfer.
Ten years after its founding, in 1864, the Iowa Synod adopted a constitution and its formal name...which, in the native German, was "Die deutsche evangelishe lutheranish Synode von Iowa".
Four decades after it was founded, the Iowa Synod grew when most of the congregations of First Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Texas joined the Iowa group as its Texas District.
By the end of the 1920s, the Iowa Synod had 637 pastors, 932 congregations, and 150,683 members.
Still more change came in 1930, when the Iowa Synod merged with the Ohio Synod and the Buffalo Synod, forming the American Lutheran Church, or ALC. A half century later, after further mergers, the now-larger group became part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the ELCA, in 1988.
But the original group of dissident pastors from Michigan came to Iowa and founded the Iowa Synod at St. Sebald, on this date in 1854.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 24th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Founding The Synod"
It was on August 24, 1854, that the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Iowa and Other States was founded. That long name was typically shortened to simply "the Iowa Synod". It happened at St. Sebald in Clayton County.
The synod was formed as a result of disagreements at a settlement of pastors in Saginaw, Michigan. The pastors had been sent to America from Germany by Johann Konrad Wilhelm Lohe. The group split, with some joining the Missouri Synod, while a small group of others moved to Iowa. They were led by Georg Grossman and Johannes Deindoerfer.
Ten years after its founding, in 1864, the Iowa Synod adopted a constitution and its formal name...which, in the native German, was "Die deutsche evangelishe lutheranish Synode von Iowa".
Four decades after it was founded, the Iowa Synod grew when most of the congregations of First Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Texas joined the Iowa group as its Texas District.
By the end of the 1920s, the Iowa Synod had 637 pastors, 932 congregations, and 150,683 members.
Still more change came in 1930, when the Iowa Synod merged with the Ohio Synod and the Buffalo Synod, forming the American Lutheran Church, or ALC. A half century later, after further mergers, the now-larger group became part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the ELCA, in 1988.
But the original group of dissident pastors from Michigan came to Iowa and founded the Iowa Synod at St. Sebald, on this date in 1854.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 24th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Friday, August 21, 2020
"The Baseball Promoter"
James Leslie Wilkinson was born in Algona on May 14th of 1878. He loved baseball and was headed for a promising career as a pitcher until he hurt his wrist. He then turned to team ownership and management, which turned out to be his real talent. For more than 50 years, J.L. Wilkinson used an eye for promotion to support the game he loved in unique ways.
In 1909, J.L. created a women's baseball team that drew up to 2,000 fans at a time. He had a covered grandstand moved around the Midwest by train to create his own venue at each stop along the way. Rumor has it a few of the players were actually men in drag.
By 1912, he had founded the All Nations baseball club in Des Moines. The team was made up of whites, blacks, Polynesians, Asians, and Native Americans, which was quite unique for the time.
He was probably best known for being one of the founders of the Negro National League in 1920, creating the now famous Kansas City Monarchs team. J.L. Wilkinson was the only white team owner that was trusted by league organizers, and he even roomed with his black coaches and players when the team was on the road and hotels were short of rooms; again, unique for the time.
Under his leadership, the Kansas City Monarchs won ten league titles and played in four Negro League World Series, winning in both 1924 and 1942. Oh, and he also signed a player named Jackie Robinson to his first professional baseball contract.
Iowa's baseball entrepreneur, James L. Wilkinson, or Wilkie, as he was known, was elected to the baseball hall of fame in 2006; but that was more than forty years after his death, on this date in 1964.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 21st...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The Baseball Promoter"
James Leslie Wilkinson was born in Algona on May 14th of 1878. He loved baseball and was headed for a promising career as a pitcher until he hurt his wrist. He then turned to team ownership and management, which turned out to be his real talent. For more than 50 years, J.L. Wilkinson used an eye for promotion to support the game he loved in unique ways.
In 1909, J.L. created a women's baseball team that drew up to 2,000 fans at a time. He had a covered grandstand moved around the Midwest by train to create his own venue at each stop along the way. Rumor has it a few of the players were actually men in drag.
By 1912, he had founded the All Nations baseball club in Des Moines. The team was made up of whites, blacks, Polynesians, Asians, and Native Americans, which was quite unique for the time.
He was probably best known for being one of the founders of the Negro National League in 1920, creating the now famous Kansas City Monarchs team. J.L. Wilkinson was the only white team owner that was trusted by league organizers, and he even roomed with his black coaches and players when the team was on the road and hotels were short of rooms; again, unique for the time.
Under his leadership, the Kansas City Monarchs won ten league titles and played in four Negro League World Series, winning in both 1924 and 1942. Oh, and he also signed a player named Jackie Robinson to his first professional baseball contract.
Iowa's baseball entrepreneur, James L. Wilkinson, or Wilkie, as he was known, was elected to the baseball hall of fame in 2006; but that was more than forty years after his death, on this date in 1964.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 21st...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Thursday, August 20, 2020
"Exploring Iowa"
The land that is now Iowa was part of the famous Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The next year, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out on a two and a half year expedition to explore and map the new territory.
One of the first men to join the expedition was Charles Floyd of Kentucky. The 22-year-old was a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and a relative of Clark’s.
As they neared the Missouri River in the end of July, Floyd took ill. He recovered briefly, but then died on August 20th, 1804, likely due to a ruptured appendix.
A funeral was held and Floyd was buried on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. The expedition named the area Floyd’s Bluff, which is located within the current city limits of Sioux City.
The Sergeant Floyd Monument was declared a national historic landmark in 1960, part of a 23-acre park to honor the only person on the Lewis and Clark expedition to die, and the first U.S. soldier to die west of the Mississippi.
The monument itself is 100 feet high, honoring Sergeant Charles Floyd of the Lewis and Clark expedition, who died on this date in 1804.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 20th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Exploring Iowa"
The land that is now Iowa was part of the famous Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The next year, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out on a two and a half year expedition to explore and map the new territory.
One of the first men to join the expedition was Charles Floyd of Kentucky. The 22-year-old was a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and a relative of Clark’s.
As they neared the Missouri River in the end of July, Floyd took ill. He recovered briefly, but then died on August 20th, 1804, likely due to a ruptured appendix.
A funeral was held and Floyd was buried on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. The expedition named the area Floyd’s Bluff, which is located within the current city limits of Sioux City.
The Sergeant Floyd Monument was declared a national historic landmark in 1960, part of a 23-acre park to honor the only person on the Lewis and Clark expedition to die, and the first U.S. soldier to die west of the Mississippi.
The monument itself is 100 feet high, honoring Sergeant Charles Floyd of the Lewis and Clark expedition, who died on this date in 1804.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 20th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Wednesday, August 19, 2020
"Boldly Going Where None Had Gone Before"
The 1960s were a time of space exploration, culminating with men landing on the moon in 1969.
On August 12th, 1960, the Echo 1 satellite was launched, to operate in geosynchronous orbit 26,000 miles above the earth. Echo 1 was a communication satellite, and this device in particular established a number of firsts.
It saw the first live, satellite-based voice communication, a radio message delivered by President Dwight Eisenhower, and facilitated the first transcontinental satellite telephone call, made between two researchers.
On August 19th, technicians working for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids used Echo 1 to transmit an Associated Press photo of President Eisenhower from Iowa to Richardson, Texas, the first image transferred by satellite.
Today, we take such communication for granted, even having small satellite dishes on the roofs of our houses so we can watch television. But thanks to technology developed by Iowa’s Collins Radio Company, the first photo was transmitted by a satellite, on this date in 1960.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 19th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Boldly Going Where None Had Gone Before"
The 1960s were a time of space exploration, culminating with men landing on the moon in 1969.
On August 12th, 1960, the Echo 1 satellite was launched, to operate in geosynchronous orbit 26,000 miles above the earth. Echo 1 was a communication satellite, and this device in particular established a number of firsts.
It saw the first live, satellite-based voice communication, a radio message delivered by President Dwight Eisenhower, and facilitated the first transcontinental satellite telephone call, made between two researchers.
On August 19th, technicians working for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids used Echo 1 to transmit an Associated Press photo of President Eisenhower from Iowa to Richardson, Texas, the first image transferred by satellite.
Today, we take such communication for granted, even having small satellite dishes on the roofs of our houses so we can watch television. But thanks to technology developed by Iowa’s Collins Radio Company, the first photo was transmitted by a satellite, on this date in 1960.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 19th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, August 18, 2020
"The First in Iowa City"
On August 18th, 1977, the Iowa City Fire Department hired its 104th paid fire fighter. What made this hire different is that it was for the first female in the department.
Linda Eaton was a member of the department for three years. Much of that time was associated with controversy, some of which played out nationally.
In February of 1979, Linda Eaton was suspended twice for insubordination. Her offense was that she refused to stop breastfeeding her son during her work breaks.
She filed a sex discrimination complaint against the city, and on March 20th, 1980, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission ruled unanimously in her favor, saying she did have the right to breast feed at work, and awarding her damages, back pay, and attorney fees.
Claiming she was harassed by male firefighters after winning that action, she left the fire department and sued in Johnson County District Court for nearly a million dollars, saying her civil rights had been violated. In 1984, a jury of five men and three women ruled against her.
Her time on the department was short, but definitely eventful. And it began when Linda Eaton was hired as the first female firefighter in Iowa City, on this date in 1977.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 18th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The First in Iowa City"
On August 18th, 1977, the Iowa City Fire Department hired its 104th paid fire fighter. What made this hire different is that it was for the first female in the department.
Linda Eaton was a member of the department for three years. Much of that time was associated with controversy, some of which played out nationally.
In February of 1979, Linda Eaton was suspended twice for insubordination. Her offense was that she refused to stop breastfeeding her son during her work breaks.
She filed a sex discrimination complaint against the city, and on March 20th, 1980, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission ruled unanimously in her favor, saying she did have the right to breast feed at work, and awarding her damages, back pay, and attorney fees.
Claiming she was harassed by male firefighters after winning that action, she left the fire department and sued in Johnson County District Court for nearly a million dollars, saying her civil rights had been violated. In 1984, a jury of five men and three women ruled against her.
Her time on the department was short, but definitely eventful. And it began when Linda Eaton was hired as the first female firefighter in Iowa City, on this date in 1977.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 18th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, August 17, 2020
"A Giant Fake"
The biggest hoax of the 19th century had an Iowa flavor.
In 1868, cigar maker George Hull came up with an idea to create a giant petrified man while on a business trip to our state. He had gotten into a disagreement with a minister about the literal nature of a biblical passage--"There were giants in the earth in those days." So Hull went to Fort Dodge and ordered a five-ton block of gypsum. It was delivered to Chicago, where stonecutter Edward Burghardt created a three thousand pound statue of an ancient man, some ten feet tall. Hull had it secretly buried in a pit on a farm near Cardiff, New York. The next year, the farm's owner hired two workmen to dig a well on the spot where the giant had been buried. The workmen soon discovered what appeared to be a petrified man.
People came from miles around to see the Cardiff Giant, as religious fervor swept over the area. Despite experts who claimed it could not be real, demand to see the Giant continued, even leading to a tour of the country. By 1875, it was pretty clear the giant was a fraud and George Hull confessed to the scam. The giant was put into storage, where it remained until 1900 when it was discovered in a warehouse and again placed on display.
Not long after, a Fort Dodge man, Joe Mulroney, purchased the giant and on New Year's Day 1914, it returned home to Fort Dodge, and then again traveled the country for a time. Des Moines Register and Tribune publisher Gardner Cowles, Jr. bought the giant on August 17, 1935 and displayed it in his home for a time. The giant has been on display at the Farmers Museum in Cooperstown, New York, since 1947.
A replica of the fake has been on display at the Fort Museum in Fort Dodge since 1972. But the original became a part of publisher Gardner Cowles Jr.'s home in Des Moines, on this date in 1935.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 17th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"A Giant Fake"
The biggest hoax of the 19th century had an Iowa flavor.
In 1868, cigar maker George Hull came up with an idea to create a giant petrified man while on a business trip to our state. He had gotten into a disagreement with a minister about the literal nature of a biblical passage--"There were giants in the earth in those days." So Hull went to Fort Dodge and ordered a five-ton block of gypsum. It was delivered to Chicago, where stonecutter Edward Burghardt created a three thousand pound statue of an ancient man, some ten feet tall. Hull had it secretly buried in a pit on a farm near Cardiff, New York. The next year, the farm's owner hired two workmen to dig a well on the spot where the giant had been buried. The workmen soon discovered what appeared to be a petrified man.
People came from miles around to see the Cardiff Giant, as religious fervor swept over the area. Despite experts who claimed it could not be real, demand to see the Giant continued, even leading to a tour of the country. By 1875, it was pretty clear the giant was a fraud and George Hull confessed to the scam. The giant was put into storage, where it remained until 1900 when it was discovered in a warehouse and again placed on display.
Not long after, a Fort Dodge man, Joe Mulroney, purchased the giant and on New Year's Day 1914, it returned home to Fort Dodge, and then again traveled the country for a time. Des Moines Register and Tribune publisher Gardner Cowles, Jr. bought the giant on August 17, 1935 and displayed it in his home for a time. The giant has been on display at the Farmers Museum in Cooperstown, New York, since 1947.
A replica of the fake has been on display at the Fort Museum in Fort Dodge since 1972. But the original became a part of publisher Gardner Cowles Jr.'s home in Des Moines, on this date in 1935.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 17th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Friday, August 14, 2020
"A Mammoth Discovery"
In the summer of 2001, construction was underway on a new parking ramp in downtown Des Moines, for Allied Insurance and Farmland Insurance. A structure of that size obviously needed a strong foundation, so crews were forming support pillars by drilling down to bedrock with a giant auger, then pouring reinforced columns of concrete.
On August 14th, 2001, the auger struck bedrock...and more. Workers examined the area and found the auger had uncovered bones. Authorities were contacted, and discovered they were mammoth bones, from animals that roamed the Earth some 16,000 years ago.
They were found to be from a wooly mammoth, one of the great beasts of the Ice Age. As the climate warmed with the end of the Ice Age, rivers, vegetation and the landscape changed. The world that mammoths dominated was no more, and the long wooly coats that had protected them against the cold led to their extinction in a changing environment with warming temperatures.
The bones found in downtown Des Moines were collected and are now part of a major display at the State Historical Building, along with a nearly complete mammoth skeleton found in Wisconsin. Bone fragments have been found in farm fields all over Iowa, but a sizeable amount of remains were found while workers were digging for a parking ramp in downtown Des Moines, on this date in 2001.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 14th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"A Mammoth Discovery"
In the summer of 2001, construction was underway on a new parking ramp in downtown Des Moines, for Allied Insurance and Farmland Insurance. A structure of that size obviously needed a strong foundation, so crews were forming support pillars by drilling down to bedrock with a giant auger, then pouring reinforced columns of concrete.
On August 14th, 2001, the auger struck bedrock...and more. Workers examined the area and found the auger had uncovered bones. Authorities were contacted, and discovered they were mammoth bones, from animals that roamed the Earth some 16,000 years ago.
They were found to be from a wooly mammoth, one of the great beasts of the Ice Age. As the climate warmed with the end of the Ice Age, rivers, vegetation and the landscape changed. The world that mammoths dominated was no more, and the long wooly coats that had protected them against the cold led to their extinction in a changing environment with warming temperatures.
The bones found in downtown Des Moines were collected and are now part of a major display at the State Historical Building, along with a nearly complete mammoth skeleton found in Wisconsin. Bone fragments have been found in farm fields all over Iowa, but a sizeable amount of remains were found while workers were digging for a parking ramp in downtown Des Moines, on this date in 2001.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 14th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Thursday, August 13, 2020
"Hiring A Professor"
By the time Gustavus Hinrichs joined the University of Iowa faculty on August 13th, 1863, he'd already had quite a life. He was educated in Denmark and had come to the U.S. only two years before at the age of 25, settling in Davenport. Originally a teacher of modern languages, he later taught the physical sciences, which is where he made his mark.
He did pioneering work on the structure of crystals, which had bearing on the later discovery of the structure of the atom. He was one of several scientists credited with discovering the Periodic System of Elements. He focused much research on the study of weather and started the first state weather service, in Iowa. Fluent in five languages, Gustavus Hinrichs helped build a world-class science program at the University of Iowa, and pushed for the state's medical college to be in Iowa City.
But he was seen as sensitive and high-strung, and his fight with a university president got so heated, the state legislature sent a committee to investigate. After 23 years, he was fired for "general obstreperousness". He later called the Iowa medical school a slaughter house and said surgeons were drunk while dealing with patients, but those charges were unfounded.
This past Monday, a strong storm with winds equal to that in Category 2 hurricanes swept across Iowa...straight line winds ripping through buildings and shredding trees. Half a million people were without power at one point; many still are. The weather term for that is derecho. It's a phenomenon that was first identified and named by Professor Gustavus Hinrichs, who joined the University of Iowa faculty on this date in 1863.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 13th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Hiring A Professor"
By the time Gustavus Hinrichs joined the University of Iowa faculty on August 13th, 1863, he'd already had quite a life. He was educated in Denmark and had come to the U.S. only two years before at the age of 25, settling in Davenport. Originally a teacher of modern languages, he later taught the physical sciences, which is where he made his mark.
He did pioneering work on the structure of crystals, which had bearing on the later discovery of the structure of the atom. He was one of several scientists credited with discovering the Periodic System of Elements. He focused much research on the study of weather and started the first state weather service, in Iowa. Fluent in five languages, Gustavus Hinrichs helped build a world-class science program at the University of Iowa, and pushed for the state's medical college to be in Iowa City.
But he was seen as sensitive and high-strung, and his fight with a university president got so heated, the state legislature sent a committee to investigate. After 23 years, he was fired for "general obstreperousness". He later called the Iowa medical school a slaughter house and said surgeons were drunk while dealing with patients, but those charges were unfounded.
This past Monday, a strong storm with winds equal to that in Category 2 hurricanes swept across Iowa...straight line winds ripping through buildings and shredding trees. Half a million people were without power at one point; many still are. The weather term for that is derecho. It's a phenomenon that was first identified and named by Professor Gustavus Hinrichs, who joined the University of Iowa faculty on this date in 1863.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 13th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Wednesday, August 12, 2020
"Spotlight on the Garst Farm"
On September 23, 1959, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev began an unprecedented tour of the United States, including a speech in Des Moines and a visit to the heart of the world's best corn country here in Iowa.
The Roswell and Elizabeth Garst farm near Coon Rapids in Guthrie County was the site of an amazing visit by Khrushchev. Roswell Garst played an active role in the 1930s and 1940s in the conversion of old-style family farms to then–modern agribusiness, including his key role in marketing hybrid seed corn.
From a newsreel of the time:
Nikita Khrushchev's American tour swings into the world's best corn country. On the Coon Rapids, Iowa farm of Roswell Garst, Mr. K has one of the most jovial and folksy days of his visit. At one of the world's most efficient and profitable farming operations, Khrushchev shows an enthusiasm springing from his Ukrainian peasant background, and the interest of a leader whose nation has long known major food production problems.
The Garst farmstead was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 12th, 2009, and is located on Highway 141 in the northwestern corner of Guthrie County. The Garst farmstead officially became historic, on this date in 2009.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 12th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Spotlight on the Garst Farm"
On September 23, 1959, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev began an unprecedented tour of the United States, including a speech in Des Moines and a visit to the heart of the world's best corn country here in Iowa.
The Roswell and Elizabeth Garst farm near Coon Rapids in Guthrie County was the site of an amazing visit by Khrushchev. Roswell Garst played an active role in the 1930s and 1940s in the conversion of old-style family farms to then–modern agribusiness, including his key role in marketing hybrid seed corn.
From a newsreel of the time:
Nikita Khrushchev's American tour swings into the world's best corn country. On the Coon Rapids, Iowa farm of Roswell Garst, Mr. K has one of the most jovial and folksy days of his visit. At one of the world's most efficient and profitable farming operations, Khrushchev shows an enthusiasm springing from his Ukrainian peasant background, and the interest of a leader whose nation has long known major food production problems.
The Garst farmstead was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 12th, 2009, and is located on Highway 141 in the northwestern corner of Guthrie County. The Garst farmstead officially became historic, on this date in 2009.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 12th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, August 11, 2020
"The Worst Flooding"
Depending on where you live, you might look to flooding in 1993 as the worst ever…or perhaps 2008.
But in Ames, the record was on August 11th, 2010.
Fourteen inches of rain fell in the area in just four days. All that rain led to the Squaw Creek overflowing its banks and joining with the Skunk River, leading to the historic backup of water.
Hundreds were forced from their homes, roadways were closed, and on top of it all, an underground water pipe broke, depleting the city’s water towers and interrupting the flow of the Ames water supply.
Hilton Coliseum again took on water, with officials arriving to find the basketball floor floating on top of eight feet of water inside the building. Damage on the Iowa State University campus alone topped $50 million. About 30 employees of a Walmart were pulled by city officials from rising floodwaters that had trapped them inside the store.
Ames had experienced flooding before, but never to the degree as on this date, in 2010.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 11th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The Worst Flooding"
Depending on where you live, you might look to flooding in 1993 as the worst ever…or perhaps 2008.
But in Ames, the record was on August 11th, 2010.
Fourteen inches of rain fell in the area in just four days. All that rain led to the Squaw Creek overflowing its banks and joining with the Skunk River, leading to the historic backup of water.
Hundreds were forced from their homes, roadways were closed, and on top of it all, an underground water pipe broke, depleting the city’s water towers and interrupting the flow of the Ames water supply.
Hilton Coliseum again took on water, with officials arriving to find the basketball floor floating on top of eight feet of water inside the building. Damage on the Iowa State University campus alone topped $50 million. About 30 employees of a Walmart were pulled by city officials from rising floodwaters that had trapped them inside the store.
Ames had experienced flooding before, but never to the degree as on this date, in 2010.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 11th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, August 10, 2020
"Honoring Veterans And Their Flags"
There's been a lot of talk lately about Civil War battle flags, including one used by the confederacy--should it still be on public display, even as a tribute to the soldiers who fought during that war. But Iowans have long respected battle flags from the “war between the states”.
In fact, it was on August 10th, 1894, that Iowa celebrated Battle Flag Day. About five thousand Iowa Civil War veterans assembled in Des Moines and marched behind their regimental flags for the last time.
That's because two years before, the Iowa legislature passed a law requiring those battle flags to be restored and displayed in hermetically sealed glass cases, "to display them to the best advantage and to preserve them as far as possible from all injury". The efforts to preserve those Civil War battle flags continue to this day.
The veterans proudly marched behind their colors to the state capitol, where they were put on permanent display on the anniversary of the Battle of Wilson's Creek, on this date, in 1894.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 10th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Honoring Veterans And Their Flags"
There's been a lot of talk lately about Civil War battle flags, including one used by the confederacy--should it still be on public display, even as a tribute to the soldiers who fought during that war. But Iowans have long respected battle flags from the “war between the states”.
In fact, it was on August 10th, 1894, that Iowa celebrated Battle Flag Day. About five thousand Iowa Civil War veterans assembled in Des Moines and marched behind their regimental flags for the last time.
That's because two years before, the Iowa legislature passed a law requiring those battle flags to be restored and displayed in hermetically sealed glass cases, "to display them to the best advantage and to preserve them as far as possible from all injury". The efforts to preserve those Civil War battle flags continue to this day.
The veterans proudly marched behind their colors to the state capitol, where they were put on permanent display on the anniversary of the Battle of Wilson's Creek, on this date, in 1894.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 10th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Friday, August 7, 2020
"The Train Reaches The Station"
Calhoun County in western Iowa wasn’t always called that. In honor of the Sac and Fox Indians, two of Iowa’s counties were named Sac and Fox in 1851. But a friend of former U.S. vice-president John C. Calhoun did not like the name Fox, and got the county named for Calhoun in 1853.
The county seat wasn’t always Rockwell City, either. It was originally Lake City, but was moved when the tracks of the Illinois Central Railroad were laid through the county in 1870, and Manson and Pomeroy sought the designation. Ultimately, though, leaders decided a more central location was best, and Rockwell City became the county seat.
Rockwell City was platted in 1876 and named for its founders, John and Charlotte Rockwell.
The importance of being on a rail line with a regular train schedule was not lost on Rockwell. At that time, the survival of cities depended on it.
So in 1880, when John Rockwell learned that Des Moines businessman Frederick M. Hubbell was bringing his railroad as far as Jefferson, Rockwell went to Des Moines and promised to give Hubbell half of the building lots in the town if Hubbell would bring the railroad to Rockwell City. Hubbell did, and the first train arrived there on August 7th, 1882.
After the arrival of the railroad, the population of Rockwell City doubled, making John Rockwell’s trade a pretty good investment. All that growth came after the first train arrived in Rockwell City, on this date, in 1882.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 7th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The Train Reaches The Station"
Calhoun County in western Iowa wasn’t always called that. In honor of the Sac and Fox Indians, two of Iowa’s counties were named Sac and Fox in 1851. But a friend of former U.S. vice-president John C. Calhoun did not like the name Fox, and got the county named for Calhoun in 1853.
The county seat wasn’t always Rockwell City, either. It was originally Lake City, but was moved when the tracks of the Illinois Central Railroad were laid through the county in 1870, and Manson and Pomeroy sought the designation. Ultimately, though, leaders decided a more central location was best, and Rockwell City became the county seat.
Rockwell City was platted in 1876 and named for its founders, John and Charlotte Rockwell.
The importance of being on a rail line with a regular train schedule was not lost on Rockwell. At that time, the survival of cities depended on it.
So in 1880, when John Rockwell learned that Des Moines businessman Frederick M. Hubbell was bringing his railroad as far as Jefferson, Rockwell went to Des Moines and promised to give Hubbell half of the building lots in the town if Hubbell would bring the railroad to Rockwell City. Hubbell did, and the first train arrived there on August 7th, 1882.
After the arrival of the railroad, the population of Rockwell City doubled, making John Rockwell’s trade a pretty good investment. All that growth came after the first train arrived in Rockwell City, on this date, in 1882.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 7th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Thursday, August 6, 2020
"The First Atomic Bomb"
As a young boy, Paul Warfield Tibbets, Jr., lived in Cedar Rapids; the family later moved to Des Moines, where Paul attended Roosevelt High School for a time. Then it was off to Florida, but Paul returned each summer to Iowa to stay on his uncle’s farm.
Paul Tibbets enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1937, at the age of 22. His ability as a pilot was apparent, and he was quickly tabbed for special projects. One included flying over Hiroshima, Japan, in the pre-dawn hours of August 6, 1945. The top secret mission included dropping a new bomb, one which weighed four and a half tons, and carried the name Little Boy.
“Coming up on the bomb run, the city was visible to us. Our aiming point, the military headquarters there, stood out very clearly. After the bomb had exploded, and by the time we could turn around and get a look at it, the city was a mass of dust. … To me it appeared that it was exactly the same as antiaircraft fire. As a matter of fact, I was fooled even though I was expecting a reaction to the airplane from the blast. When it did happen, my first reaction was that it was flak.
That was Paul Tibbets, speaking with legendary journalist Jack Shelley just two days after the mission. Tibbets flew a plane called the Enola Gay…named after his mother, Enola Gay Haggard Tibbets, who hailed from Glidden, Iowa.
Some 130,000 Japanese were killed, and a ten-square mile area was obliterated, when a former Iowa resident, Paul Tibbets, piloted the plane that dropped the world’s first atomic bomb, on this date in 1945.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 6th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The First Atomic Bomb"
As a young boy, Paul Warfield Tibbets, Jr., lived in Cedar Rapids; the family later moved to Des Moines, where Paul attended Roosevelt High School for a time. Then it was off to Florida, but Paul returned each summer to Iowa to stay on his uncle’s farm.
Paul Tibbets enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1937, at the age of 22. His ability as a pilot was apparent, and he was quickly tabbed for special projects. One included flying over Hiroshima, Japan, in the pre-dawn hours of August 6, 1945. The top secret mission included dropping a new bomb, one which weighed four and a half tons, and carried the name Little Boy.
“Coming up on the bomb run, the city was visible to us. Our aiming point, the military headquarters there, stood out very clearly. After the bomb had exploded, and by the time we could turn around and get a look at it, the city was a mass of dust. … To me it appeared that it was exactly the same as antiaircraft fire. As a matter of fact, I was fooled even though I was expecting a reaction to the airplane from the blast. When it did happen, my first reaction was that it was flak.
That was Paul Tibbets, speaking with legendary journalist Jack Shelley just two days after the mission. Tibbets flew a plane called the Enola Gay…named after his mother, Enola Gay Haggard Tibbets, who hailed from Glidden, Iowa.
Some 130,000 Japanese were killed, and a ten-square mile area was obliterated, when a former Iowa resident, Paul Tibbets, piloted the plane that dropped the world’s first atomic bomb, on this date in 1945.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 6th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Wednesday, August 5, 2020
"The First Alert"
In 1996, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was kidnapped and murdered in Arlington, Texas. She was dragged from her bicycle while riding near her home. Her murder led Dallas/Fort Worth radio and television stations to work with police to broadcast alerts when children were abducted.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children endorsed the Texas plan, and soon Amber Alert programs spread around the country.
In August of 2002, Governor Tom Vilsack called on Iowa law enforcement officials and broadcasters to come up with their Amber Alert plan. By the end of the year, a plan was recommended, and on March 13th, 2003, Iowa became the 36th state with an Amber Alert plan.
Iowa's first Amber Alert was issued August 5th, 2003 from Des Moines. The mother of six month old Hessona Bolen reported that he was abducted from a Washington Street address there shortly before 2 by Hesson Mock. The mother stated that the child was in danger. The child was safely located at a relative's home.
Not all Amber Alerts have an ending like that one. But in many cases, the Amber Alert has been instrumental in safely returning children to their homes. Iowa's first Amber Alert was one of those, on this date in 2003.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 5th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The First Alert"
In 1996, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was kidnapped and murdered in Arlington, Texas. She was dragged from her bicycle while riding near her home. Her murder led Dallas/Fort Worth radio and television stations to work with police to broadcast alerts when children were abducted.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children endorsed the Texas plan, and soon Amber Alert programs spread around the country.
In August of 2002, Governor Tom Vilsack called on Iowa law enforcement officials and broadcasters to come up with their Amber Alert plan. By the end of the year, a plan was recommended, and on March 13th, 2003, Iowa became the 36th state with an Amber Alert plan.
Iowa's first Amber Alert was issued August 5th, 2003 from Des Moines. The mother of six month old Hessona Bolen reported that he was abducted from a Washington Street address there shortly before 2 by Hesson Mock. The mother stated that the child was in danger. The child was safely located at a relative's home.
Not all Amber Alerts have an ending like that one. But in many cases, the Amber Alert has been instrumental in safely returning children to their homes. Iowa's first Amber Alert was one of those, on this date in 2003.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 5th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, August 4, 2020
"Riding the Rails, for Dinner"
On August 4th, 1984, a classic passenger train named the Star Clipper departed from Osage. One-hundred-twenty-one passengers were on board that Saturday night for the first trip on something new--a dinner train.
The concept of a dinner train in modern times was something new, allowing many people the chance to experience rail travel for the first time, while also providing entertainment reminiscent of days gone by.
That evening, the guests traveled in northeast Iowa and enjoyed a fresh, chef-prepared meal and live, tableside entertainment.
The idea was the brainchild of a legendary short line and regional railroad operator named Jack Haley. He thought restoring old trains and short sections of track would be of interest to people, and the Star Clipper Dinner Train has been called the father of the modern day dinner train.
After first operating from Osage, the Iowa Star Clipper moved to Waverly in 1986, and once business declined after a few years there, the train itself was moved to Michigan, where it operated until 2010. The Iowa rail line from Waverly is now a pedestrian and bicycle trail.
Since its restoration, the Star Clipper Dinner Train has entertained more than two million passengers in three different states. But it all began with 121 passengers who rode the train for an evening from Osage, on this date in 1984.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 4th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Riding the Rails, for Dinner"
On August 4th, 1984, a classic passenger train named the Star Clipper departed from Osage. One-hundred-twenty-one passengers were on board that Saturday night for the first trip on something new--a dinner train.
The concept of a dinner train in modern times was something new, allowing many people the chance to experience rail travel for the first time, while also providing entertainment reminiscent of days gone by.
That evening, the guests traveled in northeast Iowa and enjoyed a fresh, chef-prepared meal and live, tableside entertainment.
The idea was the brainchild of a legendary short line and regional railroad operator named Jack Haley. He thought restoring old trains and short sections of track would be of interest to people, and the Star Clipper Dinner Train has been called the father of the modern day dinner train.
After first operating from Osage, the Iowa Star Clipper moved to Waverly in 1986, and once business declined after a few years there, the train itself was moved to Michigan, where it operated until 2010. The Iowa rail line from Waverly is now a pedestrian and bicycle trail.
Since its restoration, the Star Clipper Dinner Train has entertained more than two million passengers in three different states. But it all began with 121 passengers who rode the train for an evening from Osage, on this date in 1984.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 4th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, August 3, 2020
"A World Hall of Famer"
You know the story of Waterloo’s Dan Gable. He was good at many sports, but opted to focus solely on wrestling before his sophomore year in high school. It paid off, as he ran up a 64-0 record, winning three state championships for Waterloo West high school.
Then it was on to college, where he lost only one match in his entire Iowa State University career--his last, while winning 181 others. His dominance continued in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where he won gold without giving up a single point.
Gable turned to coaching at the University of Iowa in 1976 and became the most successful coach in college history, including 9 national titles in a row as well as 21 consecutive Big Ten titles.
On August 3rd, 2012, Dan Gable was inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame, managed by the international Olympic governing body for the sport. The ceremony was held just before the London Olympic Games that year.
"Any time you go into a Hall of Fame it is always good. When you go into one that is at the top of your sport, it is pretty impressive…I also have a category I went in called legends. Most everybody went into the Hall of Fame, but I got to go into a special category. That really is meaningful. I am really honored. Hopefully I can live up to that legend…This is history, but what about let’s make some more history. That is what I’m looking to do," Gable said.
Only two others in history were inducted as legends. But it’s appropriate, since you can’t say the name Dan Gable without also saying legendary. The Waterloo native was inducted into the international wresting hall of fame on this date in 2012.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 3rd...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"A World Hall of Famer"
You know the story of Waterloo’s Dan Gable. He was good at many sports, but opted to focus solely on wrestling before his sophomore year in high school. It paid off, as he ran up a 64-0 record, winning three state championships for Waterloo West high school.
Then it was on to college, where he lost only one match in his entire Iowa State University career--his last, while winning 181 others. His dominance continued in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where he won gold without giving up a single point.
Gable turned to coaching at the University of Iowa in 1976 and became the most successful coach in college history, including 9 national titles in a row as well as 21 consecutive Big Ten titles.
On August 3rd, 2012, Dan Gable was inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame, managed by the international Olympic governing body for the sport. The ceremony was held just before the London Olympic Games that year.
"Any time you go into a Hall of Fame it is always good. When you go into one that is at the top of your sport, it is pretty impressive…I also have a category I went in called legends. Most everybody went into the Hall of Fame, but I got to go into a special category. That really is meaningful. I am really honored. Hopefully I can live up to that legend…This is history, but what about let’s make some more history. That is what I’m looking to do," Gable said.
Only two others in history were inducted as legends. But it’s appropriate, since you can’t say the name Dan Gable without also saying legendary. The Waterloo native was inducted into the international wresting hall of fame on this date in 2012.
And that's Iowa Almanac for August 3rd...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
