How did you come up with your competitive eating persona?

How did you come up with your competitive eating persona?

Arnie "Chowhound" Chapman (Competitive Eater) gives expert video advice on: What is your competitive eating stage persona?; How did you come up with your competitive eating persona?; What is your competitive eating persona best known for? and more...

I came up with my competitive eating persona, a nickname that I had earned while I was stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado in 1981. They had a midnight mess hall that was on the other end of the fort. And so I was known, that 11:00 o'clock at night I would make journeys, like a two or three mile walk to the other side of the fort. And so I remember one particular morning the guys, we were in formation, and one of the guys said, "Chapman, man, did I see you there at the midnight mess hall? Do you go there every night?" and I was like, "Yeah, I guess I do." So they were like, "Damn, Chapman, you're a chowhound." And I thought that was pretty funny and I kind of ran with that nickname while I was still stationed at Fort Carson. And then when I got into competitive eating, I said, "Hey, let me resurrect this." It goes with Chapman -- Chowhound Chapman -- perfect nickname.