Iowa Legend, Big Ten Champion Chuck Long to sign book, speak at VFW

By: Sam T. Jensen — [email protected]

Dakota City, IA — An Iowa football icon is making his way to Humboldt County Monday.

Chuck Long, who won a Big Ten championship with the Iowa Hawkeyes in 1985, will be signing copies of his biography Destined for Greatness, at the VFW Hall in Dakota City. The former Detroit Lion said the book came about when he struck up a conversation with author and West Bend native Aaron Putze one night at dinner.

“He wanted to hear some football stories, because he’s a Hawk[eyes] fan. So I started telling some stories, and about halfway through the stories he said ‘hey, would ever consider putting this in a book?’ He goes ‘writing’s my passion… it’s always been a passion. I’d love to write your book, if you’re interested.'”

Long says at first, he was reluctant. He wanted to sit down and write a book when he was 70 or 75, but Putze had some choice words for Long when he said that.

“Well no one’s going to remember you then! You got to do it now! So anyway, I gave it about two weeks, thought about it, called him up and said ‘hey, let’s get this done.'”

The process of writing the book took roughly two and a half years and Long gives all the credit to Putze. Long says he provided the stories and the memories, but Putze did all the research and all the writing.

“He put over a thousand hours in; and he has a job, and a family. He was really burning the midnight oil.”

Destined for Greatness not only tells the story of Chuck Long but, gives insight into what made the 1985 Iowa Hawkeyes football team so special.

“We knew going in – we had a bunch of seniors on that team – it was a special group. We had a legitimate shot at the Big Ten Championship. The way it unfolded, low and behold, we ended up being number one in the nation. That’s something you really can’t control. That was all up to the voters.”

You can hear Long tell his story in his own words to night at the VFW Hall in Dakota City as part of the Humboldt/Dakota City Noon Kiwanis meeting.

The event kicks off at 5 with a soup buffet and live auction. Chuck Long will speak at 6:15, joined by author Aaron Putze. Long will be available for autographs and pictures at 7.

 

Featured photo courtesy of Big Ten Network.