Rocky Marciano sculpture and memorabilia on display at museum

After keeping it in his possession for several years, Mike Chapman has turned over a stunning sculpture of the late Rocky Marciano to the Jasper County Historical Museum for display.

As a hardcore wrestling and boxing enthusiast — some may be so bold as to call an expert — there could not have been a more fitting person besides Chapman to deliver the artwork by Iowa artist Nick Klepinger.

Chapman, an author and former Newton Daily News publisher, has certainly done his research on Rocky Marciano, as evidenced when pitching his idea for installing a memorial rock in Newton commemorating one of boxing’s greatest champions.

City council members accepted a $10,000 grant in early July to fund the installation, which will divert people to the Jasper County Historical Museum for further information and Rocky Marciano memorabilia — including the sculpture.

Today, the Rocky Marciano sculpture stands on an easel in the corner of the museum next to a giant, black-and-white photograph of the undefeated boxer who later died in a plane crash on Aug. 31, 1969, in Newton.

He was 45 years old at the time, one day shy of his birthday. The boxer’s life is celebrated at the museum, now even more so with the sculpture on display.

There’s some history to that, too, Chapman noted. The Klepinger sculpture was originally created for the International Wrestling Institute and Museum when it was located in Newton from 1999 to 2007 — it would later move to Waterloo.

Chapman said the reveal of the sculpture was to coincide with the institute’s professional wrestling hall of fame ceremony.

A visit with famous professional wrestler Lou Thesz, who was good friends with Rocky Marciano, would propel the idea forward. At the time, Thesz was also president of the Cauliflower Alley Club (CAC), a group that supported retired wrestlers, boxers and entertainers who enjoyed the sport.

Chapman recalled how he took the almost 80-year-old Thesz to the spot where Rocky Marciano’s plane crashed, which had a profound effect on the 15-time world champ.

Soon after, Thesz pitched to Chapman he would like the next annual CAC meeting in Newton. This was a big deal, Chapman said. The meeting was never held outside Los Angeles or Las Vegas.

In 1999, the meeting was held in Newton. About 350 visitors would flock to the event. The centerpiece to it all? A dynamic sculpture of Rocky Marciano.

“I hired Nick to do that sculpture and we had it hanging in a very prominent place in the museum with a big, blue veil over it — I wouldn’t let anybody look at it,” Chapman said.

A special guest that day was Peter Marciano, the boxer’s nephew who played football for Hayden Fry at the University of Iowa in the late 1980s; Chapman said he was a kick return specialist and a “really gutty, great young man.”

It was a packed house that night the sculpture was going to be revealed. Peter Marciano himself unveiled the sculpture. Chapman said he talked about how much the piece would have meant to his uncle.

The sculpture stayed at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum until it moved out of Newton in 2007. Chapman held onto it since then.

Putting it on display in the museum, though, was important to him.

“I wanted it in Newton because of Rocky dying here and because Nick did it and because I’m emotionally attached to it,” Chapman said. “It was important to me because I’m a huge fan of Rocky Marciano.”

Editor’s Note: “History Lesson” is a weekly series inspired by the Jasper County Historical Museum’s 40-year anniversary. Newton Daily News will publish a story every Friday (until the museum is closed for the season) featuring the people who work to preserve and promote the region’s past endeavors, while also showcasing the historical and educational significance of artifacts and exhibits on display in the museum.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com