Are You Moaw?

From our stash of great Iowa stories and quips, as related in Peter Maas, Underboss (NY: Harper, 1997), p. 466, with thanks to Ryan McAdam—

[When Sammy 'The Bull" Gravano agreed to cooperate with the FBI in prosecuting John Gotti and other members of the Gambino family, an initial meeting was arranged between Gravano and a federal agent named Bruce Moaw. The meeting began as follows:] Bruce Moaw walks over and shakes my hand [Gravano recalled]. He opened the door and I got in. I told him, "Are you Moaw?" He says, "Yes," and I said, "I heard you were from Iowa."

He said that was right and I said, "Well, if I got to trust somebody, it might as well be somebody from Iowa." And off we went.