Tom Milligan

When Tom Milligan steps on a stage, it is sure to be a great show.

When he does this one-act performance, you will learn some Iowa history.

On Saturday, Milligan will be in Webster City at the Mulberry Center Church with his one-act performance taking on the role of Henry Wallace.

The church is on the grounds of Wilson Brewer Park, 220 Ohio Street, Webster City.

The program begins at 1 p.m. This is a free performance, but freewill donations are accepted.

Milligan’s script is based on the biography “American Dreamer: The life and times of Henry A. Wallace,” written by John C. Culver and John Hyde. Culver and Hyde credit Wallace as being one of Iowa’s “most fascinating and significant figures in Iowa history.”

Henry A. Wallace was the editor of “Wallaces’ Farmer” from 1921-1933, a magazine founded by his grandfather as the “Iowa Homesteader” in 1883. It was renamed “Wallaces Farmer: The Iowa Homesteader” and shortened to the “Wallaces Farmer” in 1898.

It is still in publication today.

Wallace shifted gears in 1933, following in his father’s footsteps as the United States Secretary of Agriculture appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; he served until 1940.

He went on to become vice president of the United States from 1941-1944, and served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1945-1946.

He has been credited with being instrumental in Roosevelt’s “New Deal” policies.

As an Iowan and a farmer, his interest in the science of farming began long before he became involved in politics. Wallace was known for experimenting with corn, starting in 1903 when he was involved with a short course on corn judging.

This early involvement led him on a road that credits him as one of the inventors of hybrid seed corn. In 1926 he founded the Hi-Bred Corn Company, which later became Pioneer Hi-Bred. The company was purchased by Du Pont in the 1990s.

Wallace used his political appointment as the secretary of agriculture to introduce production controls for price stabilization, and set up food stamps and school lunch programs. He was accused of being politically naïve as he spoke against fascism and argued for finding ways to peace. His key focus was ensuring an adequate food supply for all.

Eventually, he was accused of being a socialist by his opponents, which squashed his bid for a second term as vice president, and a subsequent run for the presidency.

He died in 1965 of Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Milligan has been a working theatrical professional — as an actor, director, scene designer, producer and writer — for more than 45 years.

Originally from Des Moines his stage work includes Charlie’s Showplace Dinner Theatre, The Drake Opera, The Drama Workshop, The Old Creamery Theatre Company, The Iowa Theatre Artists Company, as well as many other arts groups around the state.

He and his wife, Deb Kennedy, work through their own theatre company, TKM Theatrical Productions, but he also shares his craft through Humanities Iowa.

This is the third of six programs being presented this season at the Mulberry Center Church by coordinator Carolynn Miller. The next program, Rosie the Riveters of Iowa,” will be presented on September 13 by Linda Betsinger McCann.