March 28, 2024

Honoring the champ

Rocky Marciano memorial proposed to Newton City Council

A proposed sculpture depicting the image of famous undefeated boxer Rocky Marciano, who tragically died in a plane crash in Newton one day shy of his 46th birthday, may help immortalize his memory and his status as a “cultural icon” in the town of more than 15,000 people.

Mike Chapman, author and former publisher of the Newton Daily News, suggested this idea to the Newton City Council during its Tuesday night workshop meeting, a session in which no formal action is taken but can further expand future ideas for city development.

To further illustrate his proposal, Chapman presented a large, framed portrait-like sculpture of Marciano by local artist Nick Klepinger. The piece had previously hung on the wall of the International Wrestling Institute and Museum — also created by Chapman — before its board voted to move the foundation to Waterloo.

Now in Chapman’s possession, the sculpture would accompany the overall encompassing memorial, which he suggested could be a large boulder called “Rocky’s Rock” near Highway 14 equipped with a brief biography of Marciano.

The relief sculpture, he said, could be stored in the Jasper County Museum, along with a display case of photographs and literature. New wayfinding signs could direct tourists to the museum and memorial.

“I think it’s a project whose time has come,” Chapman said. “Aug. 31, 2019, will be the 50th year anniversary. It would be the perfect time to do something.”

Chapman remembered exactly where he was the day he heard the dreadful news of the 49-0 boxer’s death Aug. 31, 1969. A day after the crash, the former newspaper man was spending time in Detroit with one of his best friends.

“We’re standing in a convenience store that Sunday morning and he goes, ‘Mike! Rocky Marciano died in a cornfield in Newton, Iowa!’” Chapman recalled to the council. “I said, ‘What?!’ All of a sudden there were, like, 30 people gathered around Don and me ... It was worldwide news everywhere.”

Although it was a tragic incident that claimed the life of one of the biggest names in boxing, Chapman said Marciano’s death is still a memorable event and part of “the folklore of American history.”

As is the boxer himself. Citing the book “Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times” by Russell Sullivan, Chapman said the author and history professor at the University of Illinois makes the case that two men symbolized the 1950s: Dwight D. Eisenhower and Rocky Marciano.

Klepinger agreed, saying Marciano “epitomized the character of the American citizen and the American fighting man” after World War II and the Korean War, especially with the 43 recorded knockouts tied to his undefeated record.

“He was undersized for a heavyweight,” Klepinger said. “He was small. Had a short reach. He could take a punishment like nobody else. His durability is probably what won him most of his fights.”

A memorial to commemorate the departed boxer, Chapman said, would be a nice added attraction to the city.

"This guy deserves it," he said. "And it would be good for Newton."

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