December 11, 2024

Public ceremony Friday to honor boxing champ Rocky Marciano, who died in Newton

Dan Gable, Willie Farrell among the special guests

By Christopher Braunschweig

In 1952, Rocky Marciano has a big victory smile after scoring a knockout in the second round over Harry (Kid) Mathews in their scheduled 10-round match at Yankee Stadium in New York City. (AP Photo)

Rocky Marciano’s life was cut short 50 years ago in a plane crash in Newton. To commemorate his legacy, city leaders and author, wrestling enthusiast and former Newton Daily News publisher Mike Chapman will unveil a ceremonial rock honoring the career and memory of this famous heavyweight.

The public ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Friday along the hike and bike trail between Iowa Highway 14/U.S. Route 6 and West 18th Street South near the Jasper County Historical Museum in Newton. A large ceremonial rock and informational sign will be dedicated to Marciano and his 49-0 boxing record which included 43 knockouts.

According to a press release from Chapman, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will be declaring a “Rocky Marciano Remembrance Day” in accordance to the memorial, but she will not be attending the ceremony. Newton Mayor Mike Hansen confirmed with the Newton Daily News the city, too, will declare a special day to honor Marciano’s life.

Special guests are expected to attend the ceremony, which Chapman said is about one-and-a-half years in the making. Iowa sports figure and hall of fame wrestler, former coach, NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist Dan Gable will briefly attend the event.

Gable will also be joined by National Golden Globes boxing champs Steve Eden and John Hachey, as well as nationally recognized comedian Willie Farrell, the brother of Frankie Farrell who was also killed in the Aug. 31, 1969, plane crash.

Chapman will read letters from Rocky Marciano Jr. and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago. In the letter from the NIASHF, the organization said it is “proud of Rocky’s accomplishments and our shared Italian heritage and we commend the town of Newton in memorializing this legend.”

In November 2018, Mike Chapman proposed his idea of a memorial dedicated to Marciano to the Newton City Council. Aligning with the 50th anniversary of the boxer’s death, the rock is made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Governor Branstad Iowa History Fund, which was accepted by the city council in July.

Chapman, who has described the famed boxer as one of his personal heroes, also lended a sculpture of Marciano created by Newton artist Nick Klepinger to the Jasper County Historical Museum, along with $2,800 worth of Marciano memorabilia to put on display.

“This means a tremendous amount to me,” Chapman said of the ceremonial rock. “I thought Newton had a great opportunity here to not only do something for Rocky Marciano and his family but also do something for people who love history. And Rocky his a part of history.”

A reception will be held after the ceremony on the north side of the Jasper County Historical Museum with the sculpture on display.

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