I grew up with domestic violence and that's what I knew. Married to his high school sweetheart Martha, the couple has three children. Thomas Valles, one of the real-life runners featured in the Disney film 'McFarland, USA,' is taking part in his first New York City Marathon. This race occurred two and one-half weeks after two teammates on the girls team, Silvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez, were struck by a car and killed while practicing. In this photo shot by Raul Diaz on Oct. 4, 1985, the McFarland High cross- country team gets what would be most members' first taste of the ocean when coach Jim White made an impromptu trip to Cayucos following the Santa Maria Invitational. After that, the Cougars were the easy favorites to win the first small schools division (D-III) State Meet title. Thomas Valles es una leyenda de McFarland que estuvo al frente del equipo campen de 1987 y ahora entrena al equipo femenino de campo a travs en la escuela secundaria McFarland y participar en el 50 Maratn anual de la ciudad de Nueva York. White took them to the beach for the first time, to the bowling alley for the first time, to the miniature golf course for the first time, and eventually to different corners of the globe. Raul would walk across the graduation stage that spring without his sister, her hopes and dreams a memory preserved by his photographs. This mantra propelled the boys of McFarland High School to their the first California State Cross Country Championships in 1987. 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. The actor rode the pink bike, not the coach. Send me an email at johnharte@att.net. They took him home and knocked on his front door. 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. Below we tell the story of White, Valles and the 1987 championship team and point out areas of Hollywood fiction. Yes. MileSplit California Editor: The pain was etched on the faces of the McFarland runners, and the empathy for the team was palpable among opposing runners, coaches and spectators. . 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.". The houses in which the family stayed belonged to farm owners. 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." JJAEP is an alternative school based in Plainview (independent from any local school districts) that takes in students from around the region that have had run-ins with law enforcement or disciplinary issues at school. We were recruited young. White House Farm: Julie tells the police about Marcus. He later taught woodshop and physical education. He also attended CSU Bakersfield and was the first person in his familyto get higher than a sixth-grade education. Forgot." Based on the true story of a 1987 cross country team from a mainly Latino high . Seated on bench from left: Eva Renteria, Sylvia Diaz, Alicia Herrera, Herlinda Gonzalez and Hollie Wykoff. Ask TBC: What's the latest on this indicted BPD officer? Jose Cardenas, McFarland's expected No. High 47F. The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. We'd love to share your memories of that meet and that experience. Victor Puentes is just to his left. White sees the athletic What we are reminded of is that McFarland USA is based on a true story but it is not a documentary. Sergeant First Class - United States Army. Winds light and variable. Victor Puentes is just to his left. It was the first time their children and grandchildren had seen the movie. Ryan Andersen . Every year we remind the team of the tragedy of that painful afternoon, so it's always in my short-term memory.". McFarland, USA (also known as McFarland) is a 2015 American sports drama film directed by Niki Caro, produced by Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, written by Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson with music composed by Antnio Pinto.The film was co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Mayhem Pictures. He tried to keep to a straight and narrow path for his moms sake, for Whites sake and for the sake of not becoming like his father. Delano Now Thomas Valles, a former member of the McFarland, Calif. cross-country team that won a state championship in 1987, speaks to South Haven High School and Baseline Middle School students, Friday . White used to tell Valles that he wanted to see him join the cross country team in high school, Valles recalled. Definitely. Today, hes a motivational speaker. A good student, she dreamed of continuing her education after high school and of visiting Hawaii. Thomas Valles has been running since middle school, and he still hasnt stopped at 52. Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. This photo . He and his wife Cheryl met at Magic Valley Christian College in Idaho. His household walked on eggshells around his dad. Well, yeah, that happened. You have permission to edit this article. I was an outsider, an observer trained to record emotion without much feeling of my own and then move on to the next assignment. Grandchildren to see this wonderful film. We still run the same roads, along the same fields, just with different kids. They are portrayed to be 15 and 10, a few years younger than they actually were at the time of the first state title in 1987 (the girls were in college at the time). But the character of the town started changing, as coach White built success. Good men and woman can make a huge difference in the lives of others. "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. Thirty minutes later, they were hit by a vehicle on Whisler Road. Its not part of the movie, but the team was, obviously, grieving and impacted deeply. Central Valley. Ayon is the current McFarland boys coach. 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. Partly cloudy skies. Tulare County Sheriffs deputies are investigating an early morning Memorial Day home-invasion robbery in Earlimart, Former Philippines, Earlimart, St. Marys Catholic School and Delano Union School District teacher Remedios E. Ubay passes away at 95, Mary Ann Ruiz Mateo-Laeno, 75 passed away on June 19, a Memorial Service is set for July 23 in Delano, Nick Ruiz, owner of Delanos San Joaquin Paint and Glass Co, passed away April 24, services set for Saturday, May 14, Former Delano Public Works director, community leader Eddie Ahumada, 81, passed away March 14, services set for April 29. Valles, his coach Jim White, and six teammates were the CIF California State Cross Country Champions in 1987. Asked what part of the story of that 1987 season he wished had been included in the film, White said the impact of his wife Cheryl. Valles went on to earn a criminal justice degree. "That's their livelihood. As you can imagine, it must have sounded as bad as someone scraping their nails across a chalk board.". "We were a very good team in 86," White said. Taff Jones initially suspected that Sheila Caffell had killed her family before taking her own life (Photo: ITV) On Tuesday, Valles shared a more in-depth version with students at the JJAEP with the hope of inspiring them. Valles has run a marathon only once before, in the California International Marathon. We still run the same roads, along the same fields, just with different kids. And, man, I just started crying, started crying tears of joy. You might know Valles from the famous Disney movie McFarland USA. Carlos Chalabi portrayed him as a high school student. She called the cops it wasnt the first time and they took him to jail. White has lived in McFarland ever since. "All my teammates are still here. The McFarland, USA true story supports that McFarland High School won nine CIF California State Championships in cross country (including five in a row) and held a streak of attending the state championship meet 24 years in a row. She was 16 and I was 18 on Oct. 27, 1986. Sylvia Diaz at work in the agricultural fields of McFarland in 1985. La historia de Valles apareci en la pelcula de Disney "McFarland USA". Sometimes [our success is] a hindrance because the kids say, Well, I can't do that, or I can't be as good as this person or that person, coach White explains. Coach White called Thomas over. Julie White Born Julie K. White June 4, 1961 San Diego, California, U.S. But, no, that title did not immediately begin the school's run of state championships. The first time Valles got real with an audience, a kid approached him afterward. I told them I was but our goal is to win as a team.". 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. But hours and hours together with nothing to do but run mile after grueling mile together creates a bond. Change). There is much excitement and anticipation in McFarland about the film, which stars Kevin Costner as coach Jim White, and as I mentioned in my previous posts that dealt with the enormous heartache this town endured in the 1980s Show the world what has happened to my son, Prom night, a crash and six teens lost and McFarlands never-ending heartache this close-knit town deserves some good will and national love. "We couldn't go out there and run those things," White said. His family struggles to fit into the low-income Hispanic culture, and White struggles to reach the . What Happened To Thomas Valles And Julie White, But not sure the latter works on SP, the first i have found 3 structures across the bog so far that look to be obelisk kinda things, all of them close to the map edges, 2 where mission related the bottom left one was not (best option for SP id say). As he settled into his new home, he maintained the life of a homebody. One day he got a call from White reminding him why he was in school. In 1964, after graduating from Pepperdine, White was hired to teach middle school science in McFarland. Wykoff was one of the runners who witnessed the accident. I know because as a young Californian photographer during the 1980s, I was part of the journalism team that covered it. A single car crash, on Valentine's Day 1987, claimed the lives of four teens from McFarland and two from neighboring Delano. White coached for 23 years from 1980 through 2002 and he came back for one year in 2003. Diaz, now a vice principal at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, says he regrets taking Herlinda's upbeat nature for granted. ", White said Diaz was about 110 pounds as a sophomore in 1987. Many of the citizens of McFarland were extras in the movie. It was tough growing up in McFarland.". Feel free to email jeffrey.parenti@flosports.tv. Thomas Valles. The more Stan Jones persisted in his pursuit of Jeremy, the more irate Taff became, using a combination of rank and intimidating behaviour to dismiss any concerns about Jeremy and the way in which the case was being handled . ", White said of the seven Diaz siblings (six boys and a girl), "five of them have their masters and six of them are in education. ", "That was Hollywood," Valles said. Pow. country team. I didn't do that until I met the Whites. Valles explained that White had observed him going for a six-mile jog-walk record "trying to be the top guy. It was an emotional and . Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. "We did have hills," White said. ", "Thomas he made a big impact on our life," White said. Growing up, we had to work to keep a roof over our heads, Valles said. Both Valles and White said the movie producers preferred the idea of three Diaz brothers on the team rather than just two. If Valles wanted to travel, he had to maintain good grades and stay out of trouble. He says that We won.' One can be here on earth one minute and gone the next. Juanita Diaz. Julie and Jami are depicted in the McFarland, USA movie. After the Disney film came out, Valles was asked to speak at McFarland Junior High and was nervous. This is the team featured in the movie McFarland USA, which opens to general release on February 20. His younger sisters, who were barely in middle school, became teenage mothers. Retired - living in McFarland. -KGET 17, Yes. He was no fan of homework and was diagnosed with dyslexia creating some additional learning challenges at school but he was motivated to run and to travel. The message is so clear, never give up, even when the odds are against you. 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. Thank you for reading! Jim White and Thomas Valles Reflect on 35 Years of McFarland Track. They grew up in broken homes. 12, The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. what happened to thomas valles and julie white Sylvia had just made her first communion a week before and that got Herlinda all excited. 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 . While a lot of what the movie said about his life was true, his parents were divorced when he reached high school. She put him to bed for school the next day but not before telling him he would be like his dad. 'What's going on?' But his dream would be realized. She was on the 1985 team and became a cheerleader in 1986, but her teammates wanted her in this photo. I realized (while working in the prison) had not somebody intervened in my life -- I thought of that many times during my career -- that these men that are incarcerated share a lot of similarities to me. Sylvia Diaz's senior portrait in the 1986-87 McFarland High School yearbook. If he wasnt at school, Valles was expected to be at home or in the fields helping his dad. But Valles had running, thanks to White, who was well aware of the situation. Jeffrey Parenti, jeffrey.parenti@flosports.tv, Contact Us He then taught seventh and eighth grade woodshop and PE for 11 years at McFarland Middle School, and then switched to just teaching PE and coaching the high school cross country team. Yes. They were cross country state champs in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. Sylvia was pronounced dead at Delano Regional Medical Center; Herlinda died the following day. Little did I know that was our goodbye. -LCU.edu, Yes. "Sometimes I helped them work in the fields," says the real Coach Jim White, "but more importantly, I had practice at a different time. 1 runner on the 1987 championship team, and asked if he was still close with his high school teammates. But he never truly felt he made amends for that with his mom. The program, which is run by Eddie Subealdea, chief juvenile probation officer for Hale County, is an alternative placement program. I didn't grow up telling my parents I loved them. The 1986 McFarland High girls cross-country team. Valles' story was featured in the Disney movie "McFarland USA.". However, similar to the film, Jim White had never been a runner himself and used the bike to follow the team during their workouts. I actually realized what true love was. My most memorable moments with her were the bus rides to away races. Did they run over piles of almonds to simulate hills? He stressed the importance of Whites impact. Seneca School, Sure, Ill help as best I can. PrepCalTrack.com conducted this Jim White Thanks, 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. Valles was a star on the team and is the primary runner featured in the film "McFarland, USA.". The boys of McFarland, like all in their community, had more than their fair share of lines to break through. Public speaker. 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 wouldn't feel anything. Also check out the incredibly moving real photos from the beach scene depicted in McFarland USA from the personal album of Silvia Diaz. Julie K. White (born June 4, 1961) is an American actress. Photo credit: ITV. The principal shook his head. "(That) fixed it where I could never see my parents on Thanksgiving," White said. He might never have given the incident another thought if not for Whites actions. 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. Low near 35F. While Diaz was the fifth scorer for McFarland, he was not overweight as portrayed. who is the anchor of the cross country team. They trained for hundreds and hundreds of grueling miles, one foot in front of the other, up hills and down hills, only to push further come race day. Later, Javi and Lupe offer to take Julie out for her own "parade", with Thomas accompanying them. By Sahil Kapur. It wasnt easy and he shared a slip-up. He occasionally hit more than just the wall. GREAT GREAT GREAT MOVIE! White echoed those sentiments, saying what impressed him so much "is their development as people in the community that make a difference. His mom called White who hopped in his vehicle and set out to find Valles and talked him down when he found him. As stated above, the real Jim White started teaching in the McFarland School District straight out of college in 1964. All of a sudden I saw these headlights and it was Mr. White in his '59 Chevy." 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. "I grew up in a broken home," Valles said. Beyond being a feel-good movie, and a good one at that, it has helped raise awareness of a small San Joaquin Valley farming town most Americans have never heard of. "However, we have never forgot and most importantly, we will always remember Sylvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez for their ultimate and personal willingness to endure this great sport we love here in McFarland and hopefully in the whole USA.". Yes. It was a great honor to win that first one.". The McFarland High yearbook page dedicated to the four students killed in the Valentine's Day, 1987, car accident. At the Kern Invitational on Nov. 1, 1986, five days after the accident that took the lives of Herlinda Gonzalez and Sylvia Diaz, team member Tammy Carter collapses into the arms of McFarland girls coach Gary Pierson. By 1986, Texas-born Coach Jim White, nicknamed Blanco by his Latino team, had built a locally dominant cross country team. It was a domestic violence situation, Valles told The Herald prior to his address to the kids on Tuesday. That's OK. We're doing it for our kids, we'll do it for you. Looking back, he said, his teammates helped him come to the realization that he was in denial. Added Cheryl: "With him being a pitcher, he would have been straight on.". It was gold to us, but complete torture for the guys and probably Coach White as well. The six-part series . Diaz, and father and mother Paul and on White said there are hills around orange groves about six miles outside of town where the team goes for true hill training. All seven Diaz Sylvia Diaz at work in the agricultural fields of McFarland in 1985. 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. Well acted and tremendously inspirational. Thomas is portrayed as the troubled teen in the movie and also the number one runner. Any one of those tragedies could form the basis of a retrospective, but there's another story, one I just rediscovered, that bears retelling because of the effect it had on the town and the high school cross-country teams of that celebrated era. -John Harte, Yes, and at times the White family paid for new shoes and clothing for the team out of their own pockets. Today, Valles coaches girls cross country coach at McFarland and travels around to speak and share his story. Valles grew up in a migrant family. The film also shows a chubby runner named Danny Diaz rallying late to secure the team title. Her education after high school teammates to secure the team. `` an alternative placement program the. Was tough growing up in a broken home, '' Valles said cross... The true story by watching the Jim White and thomas Valles Reflect on 35 years of McFarland, movie! Has three children day but not before telling him he would be his! 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La historia de Valles apareci en la pelcula de Disney & quot ; McFarland USA from beach! At Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, says he regrets taking Herlinda 's nature... Valles apareci en la pelcula de Disney & quot ; McFarland USA. `` settled into his new,! In 2003 was featured in the 1986-87 McFarland high yearbook page dedicated to the realization that wanted! Also check out the incredibly moving real photos from the famous Disney movie & quot ; McFarland,. Wasnt the first small schools division ( D-III ) State Meet title Born Julie K. White ( June! Seven Diaz Sylvia Diaz at work in the movie, but the character of the journalism team that it. A kid approached him afterward was, obviously, grieving and impacted deeply travel, he said, his were! Julie K. White June 4, 1961 San Diego, California, U.S Disney film came,...
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