He stressed the importance of Whites impact. McFarland was that 'small' then and is still today. "As soon as Mr. White left," Valles said, that he's heard from Samaniego, "they started playing basketball. . We still run the same roads, along the same fields, just with different kids. Sylvia was pronounced dead at Delano Regional Medical Center; Herlinda died the following day. 104. what does cheryl white want coach white to pick up for julies birthday. Even though we both have the same last name, we are not related and she made sure to tell me that on a few occasions.". HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Runner Thomas Valles (5th from left) and his family arrive at the world premiere of 'McFarland, USA' at the El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. Coach White said the genesis of the '87 championship team began in 1986 in conjunction with the approval by the CIF Federated Council of the first statewide championship meet for cross country. Life at home was rough. Here was the star runner, just a kid, bringing his hands to his face in prayer and keeping them there for what seemed an eternity before the start of his race. A few days later as the team traveled home from a meet, White stopped the bus at a gas station and mentioned to Valles that he was going in to get a bouquet for his wife. "That's how we developed that. The 1986-87 McFarland High yearbook page dedicated to football coach Gerald Pitts, who died of a heart attack. "We did have hills," White said. "Just getting everybody to believe in themselves," Valles said was how White developed and maintained the program at such a high level. I grew up in a house with domestic violence, and I didnt feel compelled to share, he said. champions. A cleat, a shoe 2. At about 3:30 p.m. during warm-ups for practice, Herlinda asked if Sylvia and I would invite her to church that Sunday. By Carlo Vellandi Nov 22, 2022. "I was blessed that I got the opportunity to be apart of something that kept me off the streets of McFarland. Disney took a few creative liberties with creating the feature film, Valles said. . They would have graduated together. Well, yeah, that happened. Through his work speaking, hes made many friends and returned to cheer at many cross country meets for kids hes met. A young girl approached Thomas Valles, McFarlands No. On occasion, he said, the boys would have to work in the fields on a Saturday morning before going off to a meet that afternoon. Valles' friend Ernie Bueno, who introduced Valles to Killian, asked Valles to participate in a Run to End Duchenne at the 2021 New York Marathon. But White tells the story that one day a "lady from Hanford brought her daughter" to the school where Danny worked. Team member Deborah Carter Stockett, who now lives in Virginia, told me she resented my being at those races and yelled at me to go away, but now she says she is glad I was there. "The best part wasn't winning a state championship or winning medals," Valles said, "it's what we did afterward, our education, our careers, my family. Our family has watched it three nights in a row. While a lot of what the movie said about his life was true, his parents were divorced when he reached high school. In fact, McFarland, despite winning the Division III title in 1987 with a mostly underclassman lineup, placed only fifth in 1988, second in 1989 and didn't win again until 1992. During his time there, he noticed the stories of these incarcerated men were similar to his own. Valles, his coach Jim White, and six teammates were the CIF California State Cross Country Champions in 1987. Who is Damasio Diaz? In actuality, Thomas was the number one runner for the 1987 State Championship Cross Country team for McFarland. Its also a testament to parents, dont lower the bar for your kids, always aim higb. Everybody has a Mr. White, Valles said. While still being interviewed, Valles said he noticed his teammates hugging and crying. They attack the group, while they push Julie out of harm's way. They talk about being But it was too late. ", Q: Whats the latest on Bakersfield Police Department Detective Damacio Diaz, who is facing multiple federal charges after FBI investigators a, Positive Cases Among Kern Residents: 309,529, Recovered and Presumed Recovered Residents: 304,455, Percentage of all cases that are unvaccinated:71.13, Percentage of all hospitalizations that are unvaccinated:83.13, Source: Kern County Public Health Services Department. The image in the film of the boys running hills in the almond field is actually three piles of dirt covered in plastic to look like piles of almonds, both White and Valles said. I actually realized what true love was. He showed Valles how running could set him free. We'd love to share your memories of that meet and that experience. "That's their livelihood. He recalled one trip up to Oregon in which White took Valles and his teammates to watch a leg of the Olympic torch relay. They grew up in broken homes. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. Everybody is important. "You try to offer them the same thing we offered our girls," White said. Victor Puentes is just to his left. I captured an image of teammates Norma Torres and Hollie Wykoff, alone on a bench, the amber afternoon backlight in the way we photographers love. Two weeks later, at the CIF Central Section south area meet, both McFarland teams arrived by limousine, rented by one of the parents as a gesture of sympathy. I was an outsider, an observer trained to record emotion without much feeling of my own and then move on to the next assignment. They're men of color. Retired as a correctional officer. johnny sameniego. David Diaz is behind Victor wearing a white t-shirt and McFarland hat. Perhaps one of the most endearing parts of Valles is his humility. They came back. A good student, she dreamed of continuing her education after high school and of visiting Hawaii. Bottom row, from left: Herlinda Gonzalez, Delfina Herrera, Sylvia Diaz, Gabby Perez, Dolores Plata, Magda Saragoza, Norma Lopez and Raul Diaz. McFarland runners, from left: Delfina Herrera, Hollie Wykoff, Tammy Carter, Alicia Herrera and Norma Torres. who is the anchor of the cross country team. That interaction inspired Valles to continue sharing his story and without holding back. Update, February 19, 2015: I found these additional photos from my coverage of the 1986 South Area championship at Hart Park. The McFarland High yearbook page dedicated to the four students killed in the Valentine's Day, 1987, car accident. White continues to be present in Valles life after high school and after the McFarland Cross Country teams historic run. "We ran at Mt. Jim White restarted the program in 1980 after it had been dropped for a year. They took him home and knocked on his front door. From left is Herlinda, Delfina Herrera, Sylvia Diaz and her brother, Raul Diaz. The first 20 miles are easy, Valles said. During cross-country practice on Oct. 27, 1986, Sylvia Diaz, a 16-year-old McFarland High senior, and Herlinda Gonzalez, 14, a sophomore, were struck by a car on Whisler Road in McFarland. Winds light and variable. McFarland had four in (31 points) before Stevenson's No. Send me an email at johnharte@att.net. That's the legacy I see with that time. The answers are in chronological order. Building on the tradition of contemporary Australiana, Julie White's images of native flora and fauna capture the mystery and excitement of the bush, the desert and the sea, with an . Higher wind gusts possible.. Juanita Diaz. The memorial pages in the 1986-87 McFarland High yearbook for Herlinda Gonzalez and Sylvia Diaz. All three girls graduated with degrees in education from Lubbock Christian University in Lubbock, Texas; Tami in 1985, Julie in 1988, and Jami in 1991. Thomas Valles has been running since middle school, and he still hasn't stopped at 52. But then you have some little kidI just met a little boy, Alex, in the market today. "We had no idea, with him not performing that day, if we'd actually won it. Heck, we girls could have beat them up," she says, delivering a good-natured salvo to her former teammates. Three shots was all it took and Starr's life changed forever. Herlinda was bound for greatness and every year during cross-country season, when the hot summers start to dissipate and the leaves start to change colors, I am reminded of how sensitive life really is. Julie, and Jamie, and four grandchildren. Runner Thomas Valles and his family arrive at the world premiere of 'McFarland, USA' at the El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. It was an emotional and . It was indeed the first time that many of the kids ever saw the ocean. They were Rosa Soto, 18, Lionel Martinez, 16, Efrain Rodriguez, 19, and Sandra Perez, 17. Her first appearance on the show features in episode 6 - titled 'The Tourist . GREAT GREAT GREAT MOVIE! This mantra propelled the boys of McFarland High School to their the first California State Cross Country Championships in 1987. Upset that his wife put him in jail, he got out and filed for divorce. Bottom, from left: Thomas Valles, Danny Diaz, Victor Puentes, Jose Cardenas. She has also received three other Tony Award nominations for her performances in Airline Highway in 2013, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus in 2019 and POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive . Right now, you are writing your own story.. We knew we had the potential coming into '87. In White's time, the town's population has slowly grown from fewer than 4,000 to just over 15,000. Like a scene from the movie, he found himself at a bridge on the highway one night when hed had enough. And, man, I just started crying, started crying tears of joy. "Sylvia and Herlinda became good friends during cross country, and they would often run together. Raul would walk across the graduation stage that spring without his sister, her hopes and dreams a memory preserved by his photographs. Google ' McFarland USA fact vs. fiction' and you get quite a few options that separate the true story of the upstart cross country program at the rural Central California high school and Hollywood's spin on it in the 2015 film starring Kevin Costner as coach Jim White. 2023 2019 ABG-SI LLC. He offers the kids a chance Fun was all that was on our minds. The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. However, it happened a little differently than in the movie. So I would go numb. . -23ABC News. -Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. "He just had high expectations of us. : The actress is best known for her role as Lulu Hogg, the wife of Boss Hogg, on the classic "Dukes of Hazzard." She was also on "The Waltons" and "Step by Step." "Grace Under Fire" would be her last acting job as she retired after the show's cancellation and passed away on February 5, 2011, at the age of 89. This one is for Stacey Morris, a popular student who died in a car accident. Ask TBC: What's the latest on this indicted BPD officer? Starring Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Carlos Pratts, Hector Duran, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Coach Jim White Interview & the Diaz Family Looks Back, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. From left: Eva Renteria, Hollie Wykoff, Delfina Herrera, Maria Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Tammy Carter, Norma Torres and coach Gary Pierson. Sept. 17, 2022 Submitted by the famil of Remedios E. July 14, 2022 Submitted by relatives Mary Ann Ruiz May 10, 2022 OUR CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF NICK RUIZ April 15, 2022 Submitted by the Ahumada Family Eddie Ahumada, Our Hometown 12, The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. This moment stands out in my mind the most because Sylvia sometimes seemed shy, so for her to come out with this crazy dance move in front of the boys was absolutely insane. At the Kern Invitational on Nov. 1, 1986, five days after the accident that took the lives of Herlinda Gonzalez and Sylvia Diaz, Thomas Valles prays before the start of the boys race. Two and one-half weeks after teammates Herlinda Gonzalez and Sylvia Diaz were killed in a practice accident, the McFarland girls competed in the CIF Central Section South Area meet on Nov. 13, 1986. Idk if people were aware that MHS, did not want 2 pay 4 Herlinda Gonzalez & Silvia Diaz hospital bills. He showed Valles how . Valles went on to earn a criminal justice degree. "Doesn't she get enough attention already?" Thank you for reading! Didn't you get into this fight? It was a bit of a surprise when she exited the . . He got into the truck and began to talk with Coach White about his difficulties at home. However, similar to the film, Jim White had never been a runner himself and used the bike to follow the team during their workouts. White echoed those sentiments, saying what impressed him so much "is their development as people in the community that make a difference. White said he left Stockton to visit his parents for Thanksgiving. The actor rode the pink bike, not the coach. We're still here hopefully trying to make a positive difference in our communities.". Carter Bonas Is the . The film does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the challenges of the small migrant farming community but not everything on the big screen is quite like it happened in real life. He won nine state titles and went to the state meet every year but one, he said. In the least, such scenes seem to have been exaggerated by the filmmakers. Thomas Valles is a McFarland legend who was at the forefront of the 1987 championship team and now coaches the girls cross country team at McFarland high school and will be participating in the 50th annual New York City Marathon. But enjoy the moment. White has lived in McFarland ever since. Valles retired two years ago from the California Department of Corrections. White. Likely not. Ayon is the current McFarland boys coach. Delano Now
They raised three girls (not two as depicted in the movie) and recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. We all have opportunities to inspire every person we meet every day. His household walked on eggshells around his dad. "We were a very good team in 86," White said. Thus began the relationship that was depicted -- sometimes painfully -- in the film. Just like that, the town's emerging bright light -- a cross-country program enjoying success even before 1987, the year depicted in the film -- was immersed in heartbreak. Wykoff was one of the runners who witnessed the accident. The six-part series . Yes. 5, was not in the picture. ", "Some of the boys had never been to the ocean," White said. Flora Diaz, now a teacher at Pixley Middle School, was 11 when Sylvia died. We became a real family, and we're still family.. It wasnt easy and he shared a slip-up. Sophomores Victor Puentes was 16th overall (10th) and Damacio Diaz was 22nd overall (13th). The message is so clear, never give up, even when the odds are against you. It's a story about the tragic deaths of many of the town's children, some from a terrifying and unsolved cancer cluster and others from a string of devastating accidents. Mostly cloudy skies. His performance at the 1987 state meet did help McFarland lock up the title. No one outworked the boys of McFarland. The daughter, White said, had low self-esteem, but wanted to meet Danny, inspired by the chubby boy in the movie succeeding in spite of his physical appearance. I broke my moms heart at 13, he told the kids. 5. Plainview teen preparing to take Houston Rodeo entertainment stage with Castillo game-winner sends Floydada to regional semi-finals, Sam Elliott award winner for male actor in "1883", High winds, lots of dirt cause havoc across Plainview, Texas bluebonnet season is almost here. Public speaker. Very good moviegringos better stop descriminating the Latinosjust like john Lennon saidthe world should live as one. Diaz, and father and mother Paul and -John Harte, Yes, and at times the White family paid for new shoes and clothing for the team out of their own pockets. "My parents divorced. Thomas Valles was one of the runners who competed and won the cross country CIF State Championship in 1987. It was gold to us, but complete torture for the guys and probably Coach White as well. Read rest of the answer.In this regard, who is Thomas Valles married to? "I would not have been surprised if she had ended up becoming a doctor or some top-notch lawyer," says Plata Rodriguez. The Hate U Give, written by Angie Thomas and Published by Balzer and Bray, is realistic fiction. "It is pure bliss to be able to honor both these girls through these (photos) after so many years. That sounds callous, but when I opened those assignment envelopes and looked at these photos nearly 30 years later, they slapped me with an emotion that shortened my breath. Today, Valles coaches girls cross country coach at McFarland and travels around to speak and share his story. The photos I made of the teams in the aftermath of the accident were the first I would shoot of McFarland's string of tragedies in the 1980s. Whatever the challenges Valles faces, he says he relishes the opportunity. "We did that year after year to build bonds and to trust one another," he said. In the early '90s Thomas appeared as Russell Norton in Grace Under Fire. It's all Hollywood. Julie K. White (born June 4, 1961) is an American actress. Donald trump is right lets import the hard working immigrants and keep the bad ones out! "I was getting interviewed by the Bakersfield Californian (newspaper). It reminds me of another good one, Glory Road. That was my running family, my brothers, my teammates, Mr. Thomas gives her a bracelet that his grandmother made. Teammate updates and McFarland photos courtesy of Thomas Valles. The 1986-87 McFarland High yearbook page dedicated to James Lopez, who drowned in the Kern River. This was the best of the best. Who was Thomas Valles? No contact since high school. After the Disney film came out, Valles was asked to speak at McFarland Junior High and was nervous. country team. Julie White plays the character of Maggie Shaw. "Sometimes a setback like that brings people and teams closer and more intimate with each other, and we found ourselves running for McFarland, Mr. White and most importantly, for each other.". Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. "(It is) things like that that have touched our lives," White said. He was more than a coach. The final episode of White House Farm aired in February 2020 on ITV and the entire series is streaming on Netflix now. Coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, with team member Thomas Valles at the 1987 California Southern Area cross country meet at Hart Park in Bakersfield. Also, take a closer look at the Diaz family, who had seven children run for McFarland. He came over, introduced himself, and said, I'm running. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. No. PE teacher at McFarland MS. McFarland HS varsity girls basketball coach. You set goals and keep positive.. Dad didnt want us in the calles, in the streets, Valles said. I didn't do that until I met the Whites. A single car crash, on Valentine's Day 1987, claimed the lives of four teens from McFarland and two from neighboring Delano. It had been a long time since I had said to her, 'I love you, sister' and that night at the emergency room, that is the only thing I wanted to say, for the last time. One can be here on earth one minute and gone the next. "The nerves were still there because we were going to be part of something, not thinking it was history, but a part of something that we've never done," Valles said. They're my brothers.. ', "After awhile, I realized there is some hints of my true story.". Central Valley. Retired - living in McFarland. As a boy, Thomas Valles could never have imagined that his running ability would shape the . picking in the fields. Bravo told me, "Show the world what has happened to my son.". I didn't grow up telling my parents I loved them. White House Farm has been criticised by Essex police for the way in which Taff is portrayed. The two teams were close and a terrible tragedy that killed two girls on the cross-country team (Sylvia Diaz, 16, and Herlinda Gonzalez, 14, were struck and killed by a car during cross-country practice) earlier that school year motivated the boys' team to work even harder to win the championship for McFarland in 1987. Danny's brother. Dolores Plata is sitting on the grass. I know because as a young Californian photographer during the 1980s, I was part of the journalism team that covered it. The town is now over 15,000 strong, well over the 4000 people there in 1987. I think the school shouldve paid because it was during school practice. Yes. By Sahil Kapur. He was the one who introduced us to bowling, to miniature golfing, to going to the beach for the first time. The Delano teens killed in the same accident were Ralph Escalante, 18 and Sonnan Silva, 16. "You saw the hills at the end of the movie.". Sylvia had just made her first communion a week before and that got Herlinda all excited. Dream big-that's the motto of USI's Hispanic Heritage Month keynote speaker Thomas Valles, a member of the state champion McFarland High School cross country team featured in the 2015 Disney film McFarland USA.Through a conversation moderated by Paola Marizan '15, Valles will discuss his historic and inspiring running career, the challenges he faced growing up in a small Latino farming town in . Though the girls team is absent from the film, runner Norma Lopez Takahashi, now a loan processor in Porterville, says that "we were one team." He cared and he showed it. I never photographed or met Sylvia Diaz or Herlinda Gonzalez, but the memories of the pictures I took in the aftermath of their deaths in 1986 would impact me deeply and remain with me through the remainder of my photojournalism career. Theres a scene in the movie where Valles parents are arguing and Valles steps in as his father hits a wall in a drunk rage. Director Niki Caro chose to omit Luis Partida, who in the movie is replaced with David Diaz. The key to developing the program, White said, is a simple motto: "It's all in the attitude.". White's daughter." Thomas laughed, a strange bitter sound. His family struggles to fit into the low-income Hispanic culture, and White struggles to reach the . Sylvia Diaz is in the middle. One in particular, Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratt), can run a 5-minute mile. 'Danny made a big difference in my life.' The 1986 McFarland High girls cross-country team. Victor Puentes is just to his left. Valles was a star on the team and is the primary runner featured in the film "McFarland, USA.". 1. Completed. Photos: Apocalyptic skies hung over Texas panhandle Monday. Valles explained that White had observed him going for a six-mile jog-walk record "trying to be the top guy. His first teaching position in the district was instructing fifth grade science, which he did for nine years. We had birthday parties with them. "Julie felt it was time to move on and do other things." But network and production execs revealed that White had . ', "But as people started asking me about the movie and telling me 'Hey, Thomas, but didn't this happen? (LogOut/ This was out of the ordinary.". That made us work harder. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. He also says that Jim White recruited him and his classmates in middle school to start running. I had positive people in my life through sport, Valles said. But, no, that title did not immediately begin the school's run of state championships. So I'd have two practices." Everybody has a Jim White in their lives, Valles said, referencing his famous high school coach. He has been fired from several jobs, and eventually ends up in the titular town (the only place that would hire him). We were recruited young. The movie makes Valles out to be a moody, bad boy with a checkered family background. Their mom and dad worked hard and pushed the boys even harder to succeed and do well. But the character of the town started changing, as coach White built success. 2h. Photo credit: ITV. Yes. Did they run over piles of almonds to simulate hills? The movie downplayed the circumstances in which Valles grew up. The circumstances brought Valles to a low point. We spoke with the team's top runner that year, Thomas Valles, as well as the program's legendary coach, to help us better understand McFarland, Fact vs. Fiction. Ryan Andersen . This is a carousel. He also said he didn't have a relationship with his baseball coach and questioned why there couldn't have been a better relationship. Hey were in a Gifted class and were doing a Documentary in National History Day and wed like to interview you for a primary source for McFarland, USA. -LCU.edu, Yes. Jim White (Costner) finds his days as a football coach numbered when an incident with a player leads to his dismissal. While Diaz was the fifth scorer for McFarland, he was not overweight as portrayed. He came out with two and handed one to Valles telling him he should give it to his mother and apologize. However, he did rebuild the boys and girls cross country programs from the ground up. Photo courtesy of Flora Diaz and Raul Diaz. He promised to take him places away from McFarland, California. I vividly remember telling her that very same day when that tragedy happened to not say 'hi' to me 20 times a day like she used to. Also check out the incredibly moving real photos from the beach scene depicted in McFarland USA from the personal album of Silvia Diaz. Especially when you travel, people treat you like youre important, Valles said. Dave Thomas. Her hand drawn prints are instantly recognisable. I love it so muchthese are people we need the HARD WORKING MEXICANS in this country! 'What's going on?' Now. I was assigned to cover two of McFarland's races following the accident. I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. 1987: First CIF-State Cross Country Championships, Remembering 1987: CA's First State XC Meet - Series Hub, Remembering 1987: Arroyo Boys Are Nearly Perfect, Remembering 1987: Drossin, Agoura Overcome Uncertainty, Remembering 1987: First CIF-State XC Championships, Cookie Preferences / Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. White used to tell Valles that he wanted to see him join the cross country team in high school, Valles recalled. Blanco gave his boys the skills to thrive and running gave them the opportunity to make it out of McFarland. If youve watched McFarland USA, you may know a little of his story already. ', "Thomas was at our house almost every day.". It was tough growing up in McFarland.". Many students were touched. ", "That bothered him for awhile," White said. " SAC where it dominated. Valles told the kids he and his siblings would get to bed early on the nights his dad went out for drinks. An avid runner, to say the least, Valles accepted the challenge and has worked to raise roughly $3,000 to support the cause. The Whites had three daughters. He coached Valles in elementary physical education. The McFarland, USA true story reveals that, unlike the movie, he didn't come to McFarland on his last leg after being fired several times for losing his temper with players, superintendents, etc. inspired to strive for something beyond Despite a strong group returning from the '87 championship team, McFarland only placed fifth in 1988. She was my number one fan, she talked to everybody at school how her big brother would someday be a Catholic priest. One such friend is Sam Killian, who unfortunately experiences a form of muscular dystrophy known as Duchenne. The boys worked in the classroom and on the course, and many of Whites runners attended college or enlisted in the armed forces. `` they started playing basketball Bakersfield Californian ( newspaper ) McFarlands No 's time, the town changing. Preserved by his photographs probably coach White about his difficulties at home with! Run the same fields, just with different kids and share his story. `` saying what him! Daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami grew up his days as a football coach Gerald Pitts, who seven... Men were similar to his own died the following day. `` also out! Saidthe world should live as one these ( photos ) after so many years us to,. Own story.. we knew we had No idea, with him not performing that,... In McFarland USA, you may know a little of his story and holding... Of my true story. `` dropped for a year left: Thomas Valles married to some top-notch,. Leg of the kids he and his classmates what happened to thomas valles and julie white middle school, and they often... 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Now a teacher at Pixley middle school, was 11 when Sylvia died TBC: 's!, Alicia Herrera and Norma Torres invite her to church what happened to thomas valles and julie white Sunday character of the town 's population slowly... Had enough start running earth one minute and gone the next Pitts, who experiences. Wife cheryl White want coach White about his difficulties at home boys never. High yearbook for Herlinda Gonzalez & Silvia Diaz hospital bills Diaz was the fifth scorer for.. Painfully -- in the film he was not overweight as portrayed who in the Valentine 's day 1987, the. And White struggles to fit into the truck and began to talk with coach White built.. To tell Valles that he wanted to see him join the cross country Championships in 1987 film `` McFarland he! Better stop descriminating the Latinosjust like john Lennon saidthe world should live as one so! Stopped at 52 's population has slowly grown from fewer than 4,000 to just 15,000... A popular student who died in a car accident grade science, which he did for nine years would the. Brother would someday be a moody, bad boy with a player leads to his own the... Covered it chance Fun was all it took and Starr & # x27 ; daughter.... On his front door Sylvia died that his grandmother made the low-income Hispanic culture, and said that... White 's time, the town 's population has slowly grown from than... District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University Valles went on earn... To continue sharing his story. `` speak and share his story. `` White about life! Covered it his boys the skills to thrive and running gave them the opportunity to be a moody bad... Muchthese are people we need the hard working immigrants and keep the bad ones out anchor the... About 3:30 p.m. during warm-ups for practice, Herlinda asked if Sylvia and I would not been... '' says Plata Rodriguez 's population has slowly grown from fewer than 4,000 to just 15,000...: I found these additional photos from the California Department of Corrections of harm & # x27 ; the.. Student who died of a surprise when she exited the his grandmother made High yearbook dedicated... Run together the Latinosjust like john Lennon saidthe world should live as one entire series is on... `` Sylvia and Herlinda became good friends during cross country teams historic run bracelet that his grandmother.! Also says that Jim White ( Costner ) finds his days as a boy Alex. Well over the 4000 people there in 1987 White t-shirt and McFarland hat did n't that! Team in 86, '' Valles said, that he wanted to him... Entire series is streaming on Netflix now replaced with david Diaz is behind Victor wearing a White t-shirt and hat. Not overweight what happened to thomas valles and julie white portrayed we became a real family, who is Diaz! Take a closer look at the end of the journalism team that covered it White and wife cheryl White coach! Especially when you travel, people treat you like youre important, Valles said he left Stockton visit. On ITV and the entire series is streaming on Netflix now impressed him so much is. What impressed him so much `` is their development as people started asking me about the movie said his... From left: Thomas Valles was one of the runners who competed and the. They talk about being but it was indeed the first California State cross country team for McFarland, California Sylvia. Tell Valles that he wanted to see him join the cross country team High! And recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary football coach Gerald Pitts, who unfortunately experiences a form of dystrophy! Always aim higb 31 points ) before Stevenson 's No the Olympic torch relay motto: it! From my coverage of the Olympic torch relay 's population has slowly grown from fewer than 4,000 to just 15,000. Had ended up becoming a doctor or some top-notch lawyer, '' he.. Kern River that year what happened to thomas valles and julie white year to build bonds and to trust one another, '' White said story ``. Out for drinks their mom and dad worked hard and pushed the boys of McFarland. `` 15,000 strong well... Dreams a memory preserved by his photographs brought her daughter '' to the school Danny... Middle school to their the first time that many of Whites runners attended college or enlisted in calles. Valles, his coach Jim White restarted the program, White said `` show world... Kids he and his classmates in middle school, and said, was... That I got the opportunity to be present in Valles life after High school coach still family were Ralph,.
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