The One And Only

A whirlwind week came to a close late Saturday night as we pulled into our driveway in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.

We succeeded in what we set out to accomplish on Monday, October 19 with a speaking engagement before members of the Franklin County chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness. Three days later, we were back on I-65 and I-70 heading toward Columbus for three book signings and a meet and greet of thousands of Buckeye and Chic Harley fans outside Ohio Stadium before the game against Minnesota. In the process we opened three more outlets where Columbus area residents can purchase The One And Only: Chic Harley - America’s Great Athlete. Look on our website in the days ahead for an updated listing of retail outlets in and around Columbus and Chicago. Also look for some special promotions for the book. Just this week we were included in the Columbus Dispatch’s Readers Rewards program for newspaper subscribers. 

Meanwhile, we will be returning to Columbus once again this Thursday to meet with the real people of Columbus and the Ohio State community. That night at 6 p.m. we’ll be hosting a Chic Harley program at East High School, where Chic set the world on fire with his football heroics from 1912 to 1914. Our visit is all part of our overall effort to properly honor Uncle Chic–something Ohio State has done to a degree, but has failed to go far enough. Our program is free and open to the public–not an invitation only event. East High School, meanwhile, is thrilled at having the chance to honor the man who lit up its gridiron and the man whom the prep football field was named after in 1929. On Friday a new orange and black Harley Field sign will adorn the press box area. We commissioned the sign earlier this year as a reminder to everyone who attends future football games at East that Chic Harley was one of the school’s most famous alums. 

Look for photos of our visits–both last week and this week–to soon appear on this website.

And, if you’re interested in joining our effort to persuade Ohio State to properly recognize Harley for all he did for the university, please email us a note expressing your desire to become involved. Just last week, a longtime Columbus resident pledge his support in getting a statue or some other kind of tribute to Chic in place.

If you or your group is interested in learning more about Chic Harley, let us know.
We plan to be in Columbus several times between now and the end of the year. Speaking arrangements could easily be made.
Here’s an opportunity to learn about the man who put Ohio State on the map from one who knew him well.
Email us if you would like to set up a presentation or call us at 847-561-3382 or 847-299-5511. Ask for Todd or Mary Alice.

A full house of about 65 people attended the Annual Meeting of the Franklin County (Ohio) chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Monday night, Oct. 19 in Columbus. It was a wonderful event full of some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.
I had the privilege of being the keynote speaker of the evening. Accompanying me were my brother Bob and co-worker Mary Alice Wenzl. The subject of the presentation, that included two videos and slides, was, of course, the great Chic Harley and his nearly lifelong struggle with mental illness. For the hour-long talk, the audience seemed intently interested in learning about a man who they all had heard of, but knew relatively little about. By the comments received after the talk had concluded, people seemed to be truly amazed and interested in keeping the flame and memory of Chic alive. Several people expressed strong interest in doing what they could to work with Ohio State University and the community in moving forward with the idea of a fitting memorial in Chic’s honor.
That’s one or our main goals!!
More will be said about our visit and future plans in the days ahead.

If you want ot join in our effort to come up with a plan to properly honor Chic, email us with you thoughts and ideas or give a call at 847-561-3382.
And on a related note, this coming weekend is Homecoming Week at Ohio State. I plan to be there at three book signings. Two Friday starting at noon at Conrad’s Gifts and later at Sports Collectibles. Then on Saturday morning at about 9 a.m. at SBX Books on High Street. Stop by and say hi. We’ll have life-size cut-outs of Chic. Get your picture taken with him!
There may be more to announce in a day or two.

—Todd Wessell

Nearly a dozen new locations where Ohio State fans can purchase The One And Only: Chic Harley - America’s Great Athlete were opened last week throughout the Columbus region during a whirlwind visit. (See list on home page). The response from everyone in Columbus and the OSU campus to the The One And Only was spectacular. Despite rainy conditions, our group of three Chic enthusiasts got around to all the local bookstore hot spots where fresh copies of The One And Only were perched in ideal positions for shoppers to see.
If your’re heading to Columbus and have to pass through the airport you may spot a book display on one of many hotel countertops.
Keep an eye peeled for upcoming book signings.

As some football enthusiasts interested in the history of college and Ohio State football come to realize that there was life before Archie, Eddie, Woody and Hopalong, we’re glad to call to their attention the real and full story of the greatest of the greats, Charles W. “Chic” Harley. We’re glad to report to all who are interested, that only a handful of relatives of Chic’s remain who knew him as a friend and uncle. And that, my friends, is the real story of this remarkable man as told in The One And Only. Harley’s exploits on the football gridiron are well-known: He was a fantastic football player. But what The One And Only adds beyond that is depth of character. Chic was much, much more than a great football player. His life consisted of remarkable ups and downs which few people are aware of today because—except for a few people–no one remains alive who actually knew him.
I knew Chic very well as did my five brothers and sisters. Their recollections of Uncle Chic is the fabric that makes The One And Only stand out above and beyond anything that has ever been or will ever be written or produced about him.