Chuck Long

Hawkeye Chuck Long will share stories of his football life and career as well as sign copies of his just-released biography “Destined for Greatness” during a special noon meeting of the Webster City Rotary Club.

The event will be held Monday, Jan. 14, from noon to 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1229 Kathy Lane. Members who plan to bring a guest are asked to contact Rotary President Kathy Getting at kkgetting@gmail.com.

Long, who played quarterback for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1981-85 and holds numerous school, Big-Ten and national passing records, will autograph and personalize copies of “Destined for Greatness,” greet and join in photos with guests and share memories of playing for Hawkeyes football coaches Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz.

The event will begin at noon with the public invited to attend the program at 12:35 p.m. Long will sign books and join in with photos immediately following the presentation. Hardbound and softbound copies of Destined for Greatness will be available for $30 and $20 respectively.

“Destined for Greatness,” authored by Aaron Putze of Waukee, tells the story of Long’s remarkable career and the 1980s resurgence of the University of Iowa Football program. The one-of-a-kind journey is an inspiring one–from starring on the neighborhood playground as a youth growing up in Wheaton, Illinois (affectionately named “The Tot Lot”) to his current role as CEO & Executive Director of the Iowa Sports Foundation.

The fast-paced narrative recounts the highs and lows of the Iowa football program’s struggle to reclaim national relevancy while Iowans endured the pain of the 1980s farm crisis. It also retraces the path from starring in Kinnick to the challenges Chuck faced in competing in the NFL, including his first start under the lights on a Monday night contest versus the defending Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears.

“Destined for Greatness” includes personal accounts from coaches Fry and Kirk Ferentz, Iowa teammates Hap Peterson, Jonathan Hayes and Mark Vlasic, John Campbell (former KCRG-TV Sports Director), Marc Hansen (former Des Moines Register columnist) and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.

Long holds the University of Iowa’s marks for yards passing, completions, touchdown passes and total offense (game, season and career) and pass attempts in a season and career. He is still, more than three decades after his college career ended, the most accurate passer in Big Ten History (.649).