Without these two beautiful young ladies, there would be no McFarland USA. Click here. That's the legacy I see with that time. We knew we had the potential coming into '87. In actuality, Thomas was the number one runner for the 1987 State Championship Cross Country team for McFarland. "We didn't really train like that.". He was named an all-state athlete in his freshman year. thomas valles. He was inspired by how far Valles had come. Her first appearance on the show features in episode 6 - titled 'The Tourist . The aunt is a teacher and is brought in to babysit Alex and Julie. Jim White attended Franklin High in Stockton and Magic Valley Christian community college in Idaho before completing his education at Pepperdine. Central Valley. The film also shows a chubby runner named Danny Diaz rallying late to secure the team title. The final episode of White House Farm aired in February 2020 on ITV and the entire series is streaming on Netflix now. At first, it is just a temporary place to live until she graduates high school . ", "It was a great accomplishment," White said. 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. Yes. Valles eventually enlisted in the U.S.Coast Guard. The answers are in chronological order. The real Coach Jim White took both the boys and girls cross country teams to the California central coast beach at Cayucos during the 1985 season (not the 1987 season). 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. Valles was a star on the team and is the primary runner featured in the film "McFarland, USA.". They grew up in broken homes. He later taught woodshop and physical education. Yes. "Jose Cardenas had had a bad race," Valles recalled recently about his teammate who was the team's seventh runner that day, finishing 148th. "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.". Thomas Valles has been running since middle school, and he still hasnt stopped at 52. Retired from law enforcement. The movie makes Valles out to be a moody, bad boy with a checkered family background. What about this one? He promised to take him places away from McFarland, California. 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. Terms in this set (31) Who was Danny Diaz? "We're going to go out and try to win the state title.". I'm in sixth grade, and Im running.. 'That's not even my life story. on
Juanita Diaz. Well, yeah, that happened. I received a nice surprise today when my pal, longtime Bakersfield Californian photographer Felix Adamo, found these photos I shot of the 1987 McFarland boys cross country team. Retired as a correctional officer. 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. No one outworked the boys of McFarland. Coach White is a graduate of Pepperdine University, . Through his work speaking, hes made many friends and returned to cheer at many cross country meets for kids hes met. I actually realized what true love was. Similarly, Carlos' life was changed by his teacher, Mr. Wood. 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. 'tain mais faites-le taire, cuy-l, avec sa tte de vieux nourrisson moche, j'ai pas un sou et je ne rve que de la #REVOLUTION ! "She was crying and hugging Danny. Excellent movie. He never saw the money he made as it went to support his family. Public speaker. McFarland also had a superb girls' cross-country team. 1. This is part of a series of articles looking back at the 1987 CIF-State Cross Country Championships, the first in California. Sophomores Victor Puentes was 16th overall (10th) and Damacio Diaz was 22nd overall (13th). She called the cops it wasnt the first time and they took him to jail. 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. ", "Some of the boys had never been to the ocean," White said. World Premiere Of Disney's "McFarland, USA". Valles, his coach Jim White, and six teammates were the CIF California State Cross Country Champions in 1987. The whole team. -KGET 17. Higher wind gusts possible.. They're my brothers.. Cookie Preferences / Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Generated by 10.1.2.159 from cache (3498 ttl) in 11 milliseconds. You might know Valles from the famous Disney movie McFarland USA. Carlos Chalabi portrayed him as a high school student. High 47F. Johnny is an educator and is still coaching. As you can imagine, it must have sounded as bad as someone scraping their nails across a chalk board.". They were cross country state champs in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. Sylvia had just made her first communion a week before and that got Herlinda all excited. That's OK. We're doing it for our kids, we'll do it for you. Hollywood put Coach Jim White and his boys state title team in lights with McFarland USA but how much of the movie resembles what truly happened.. College Progression Tracker 60m 100m 100H 110H 200m 300H 400m 400H 800m 1600m 3200m Discus Shotput Javelin High Jump Long Jump Triple Jump "Doesn't she get enough attention already?" visual effects editor: shade vfx Charles Baden . 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). SKOTY. the coach of the cross country team who won 9 state titles in 14 years. This is a carousel. 12, Not exactly. She was a smart young lady and she tutored me in math because I could not pass math. Did they run over piles of almonds to simulate hills? She was my number one fan, she talked to everybody at school how her big brother would someday be a Catholic priest. I didn't grow up telling my parents I loved them. Valles grew up in a migrant family. "McFarland's Family of Champions," are We thought that was normal, Valles said. You have permission to edit this article. "Sylvia was so sweet, kind, and naturally stunning," says her friend and 1985 teammate Dolores Plata Rodriguez, now an assistant principal at Cesar E. Chavez High School in Delano. So, White relocates his family to a new town taking on a lowly post teaching science and P.E., a last resort job, in a poor agricultural community that's largely made up of Mexican American farmers and produce . Teammate updates and McFarland photos courtesy of Thomas Valles. I was assigned to cover two of McFarland's races following the accident. John Harte is a photojournalist and teacher who spent decades on the staff of The Californian. -23ABC News. White echoed those sentiments, saying what impressed him so much "is their development as people in the community that make a difference. was like to have a movie made about his Thirty-five years ago, the unlikely squad of seven children of Latino fieldworkers, short in stature but strong in character, won the first of McFarland High Schools nine State Championships and 23-straight championship appearances, establishing an untouchable dynasty. Thomas Valles was barely a teenager when a coach stepped in and changed his life. Where he called home depended on where his father could find work in the fields. 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. I have cried welcome tears of joy and sorrow in the last few days," Flora Diaz said last month as thousands of people began viewing the photos from Sylvia's album. At the Kern Invitational on Nov. 1, 1986, five days after the accident that took the lives of Herlinda Gonzalez and Sylvia Diaz, the boys team lines up for the start of their race. Raul went on to become a priest and is pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Dinuba. country team. But the character of the town started changing, as coach White built success. Both girls witnessed the practice accident that took the lives of Herlinda Gonzalez and Sylvia Diaz two and one-half weeks earlier. That was the true beginning of the program's championship run to eight more titles. Subject from McFarland USA shares life story, Rare endangered animal seen running across Texas road. Sylvia Diaz at work in the agricultural fields of McFarland in 1985. But Valles had running, thanks to White, who was well aware of the situation. Included in the segment, titled "McFarland's Family of Champions," are Danny Diaz, daughter Delia Diaz, Gabriel Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego Diaz, and father and mother Paul and Juanita Diaz. Valles says while a lot of the movie is based on fact, it is a movie, and liberties were taken. He was a baseball player, a pitcher, in high school and in college. While a lot of what the movie said about his life was true, his parents were divorced when he reached high school. But Coach White led his boys to running and running beckoned them past the lines that lay before them. I think the school shouldve paid because it was during school practice. Education, law enforcement, business owners. 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. "You try to offer them the same thing we offered our girls," White said. Growing up, we had to work to keep a roof over our heads, Valles said. "Danny, he passed up Jose out there somewhere," White recalled. Update, February 19, 2015: I found these additional photos from my coverage of the 1986 South Area championship at Hart Park. "(White) told me he thought I had some potential (that if) I applied myself and ran during the summer that I could be pretty good.". josecardenas; coachwhite; jimwhite +15 more # 3. yours - thomas valles x . 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 I want all of my. Everybody has a Mr. White, Valles said. One day he got a call from White reminding him why he was in school. I photographed Thomas Valles, who is featured prominently in the film. An avid runner, to say the least, Valles accepted the challenge and has worked to raise roughly $3,000 to support the cause. : 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. He later taught woodshop and physical education. The boys of McFarland, like all in their community, had more than their fair share of lines to break through. There was alcohol or drug abuse in their homes. The Whites had three daughters. johnny sameniego. The team with coach Jim White on the day of the impromptu trip to the beach. Feel free to email jeffrey.parenti@flosports.tv. "We were a very good team in 86," White said. White coached for 23 years from 1980 through 2002 and he came back for one year in 2003. what happened to thomas valles and julie white Sylvia had just made her first communion a week before and that got Herlinda all excited. Back then, McFarland was largely white demographically. Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect I guarantee I wouldn't have missed. Little did I know that was our goodbye. In White's time, the town's population has slowly grown from fewer than 4,000 to just over 15,000. She began going through her sister's photo album as interest in McFarland increased in advance of the film's release. White would take his teams to train in Yosemite at elevation. Nothing shows that sense of unity better than images lovingly preserved in Sylvia's photo album of a visit to the beach depicted in the film. A particularly poignant photograph shows Sylvia and Raul, Delfina Herrera and Herlinda holding up her index finger, showing off the "MHS #1" she has just scrawled in the sand at Cayucos. Dolores Plata Rodriguez says the bus trips were the most fun of her cross-country experience. "You saw the hills at the end of the movie.". I didn't do that until I met the Whites. While the idea for the motion picture was conceived in the 1990s, it was not made until Disney bought rights to the story and actor Kevin Costner, who played Mr . Ayon is the current McFarland boys coach. It was a bit of a surprise when she exited the . You set goals and keep positive.. Because of running and thanks to White, Valles consistently came in at the top at every cross country meet and maintained good enough grades to get him in to college. DMCA NoticesNewspaper web site content management software and services. McFarland was that 'small' then and is still today. Cross country is an individual sport; no matter how well your team does, you still have your own time. children ran for Jim White and all seven Inspired by the irony of his last name, "Blanco" was one of the nicknames that the kids and their families gave Jim White. I'm getting goosebumps now. I grew up in a house with domestic violence, and I didnt feel compelled to share, he said. Carter Bonas Is the . While the Disney film "McFarland USA" depicts the inspirational story of the team and . GREAT GREAT GREAT MOVIE! White House Farm: Julie tells the police about Marcus. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. (David Diaz and Amador Ayon were both seniors on the 1986 team and didn't get the chance to compete for a state championship. "I was blessed that I got the opportunity to be apart of something that kept me off the streets of McFarland. White, a newcomer to McFarland when he coached the team to the state championship, still lives there. Danny's brother. Brief Version. Sylvia Diaz is in the middle. In this photo by Raul Diaz, Sylvia Diaz (3) and teammate Magda Saragoza run in a race in 1985. One in particular, Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratt), can run a 5-minute mile. (Photo by Barry King/FilmMagic) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you . Upset that his wife put him in jail, he got out and filed for divorce. Samaniego was 17th, Puentes 26th, Cardenas 37th, Damacio Diaz 43rd and Danny Diaz was 85th. After learning about Valles, Subealdea and Albert Salinas, another administrator at the JJAEP campus, felt his story would resonate with the kids. White said the team would run in the heat of the summer when temperatures were into the triple digits. Jim gets Julie a pretty dress, and she loves the party. it's not all true but he's okay with that. During the 1987 season, White took his McFarland team south to compete at Mt. As Valles wrapped his speech to the kids, he encouraged them to take steps toward reaching their goals by getting an education, going into a trade or joining the military. "He was our second dad. They worked hard. It wasnt easy and he shared a slip-up. Kalynn White: ASC Operations Coordinator . Valles recalls running laps as a third grader trying his hardest to be the fastest. Thomas Valles was barely a teenager when a coach stepped in and changed his life. 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. E-7Sergeant First Class - United States Army. Send me an email at johnharte@att.net. "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. However, I believe the Diaz family did go 2 court & the school paid them an undisclosed amount. But it was too late. "Sometimes I helped them work in the fields," says the real Coach Jim White, "but more importantly, I had practice at a different time. Who was Jim White? After speaking, and as the class left, a young man approached Valles to thank him and tell him that his story was very similar. The McFarland girls arrived for the CIF Central Section South Area meet on Nov. 13, 1986 in a limousine. Not unlike many McFarland kids, she worked in the fields to help support her family. He might never have given the incident another thought if not for Whites actions. His siblings soon started spiraling into unhealthy behaviors. When Valles entered third grade in 1979, his dad bought a home in McFarland. 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. Pictured are Norma Torres and Hollie Wykoff, right, after the race. This was out of the ordinary.". I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. He offers the kids a chance The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. Its the last six miles that get you., We always think back and wish we could have done this or that, Valles said. "Just getting everybody to believe in themselves," Valles said was how White developed and maintained the program at such a high level. interview. Partly cloudy skies. 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.". When I say Mr. White became my father figure and Mrs. White became my mother figure. The team placed second in 1989 with Samaniego placing eighth and getting on the podium. This book is about the chain affects of the shooting of Khalil and what Starr does after to protect his. 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. Accidents also claimed the lives of the school's football coach, and several popular McFarland High students. He stressed the importance of Whites impact. . They met at my house for practice. Nine boys state titles is tied with Jesuit (SJ) for the most boys team titles in state history. Despite a strong group returning from the '87 championship team, McFarland only placed fifth in 1988. Like in the movie, Thomas Valles went to an overpass above Highway 99 one night after his parents got into a horrible fight. Everybody is important. In the least, such scenes seem to have been exaggerated by the filmmakers. 5. Playing Grace's best friend in Grace Under Fire, White had a falling out which resulted in her giving her notice to the show. His response, "Well, they're not just my friends. "David and Danny (Diaz) are in education. (He had a) poor relationship with dad. Herlinda said that was cool. Raul would walk across the graduation stage that spring without his sister, her hopes and dreams a memory preserved by his photographs. No, the real Coach Jim White actually started coaching cross country at McFarland High School in 1980. She was on the 1985 team and became a cheerleader in 1986, but her teammates wanted her in this photo. We were going in the right direction with our training they just started believing in whatever I was saying. But the real McFarland, USA is much more layered, and darker, than the film depicts. He won nine state titles and went to the state meet every year but one, he said. . Find where to watch Julie White's latest movies and tv shows And that pain would come back. By Carlo Vellandi Nov 22, 2022. Today, Valles coaches girls cross country coach at McFarland and travels around to speak and share his story. Its also a testament to parents, dont lower the bar for your kids, always aim higb. "That's their livelihood. "I looked over at the reporter and I said 'We won. Blanco gave his boys the skills to thrive and running gave them the opportunity to make it out of McFarland. She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in The Little Dog Laughed in 2007. Here's all you need to know about Taff Jones. All seven Diaz children ran for Jim White and all seven went . Did he ride a pink girls 'Barbie' bike, or was it only Costner? Its a town that draws in running teams from across the country for motivational talks, and its a town that knows champions can be made there. 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. WABC 11/5/2021. Additionally, Coach White would be there for counseling and fulfilling needs beyond what their parents could afford. Many students were touched. Victor Puentes is just to his left. Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. 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. "We ran at Mt. Write by: But he never truly felt he made amends for that with his mom. So I would go numb. Bottom row, from left: Herlinda Gonzalez, Delfina Herrera, Sylvia Diaz, Gabby Perez, Dolores Plata, Magda Saragoza, Norma Lopez and Raul Diaz. A cleat, a shoe 2. "(It is) things like that that have touched our lives," White said. "My parents divorced. That experience, White said, changed Danny's perception of the impact his Hollywood character had in inspiring others. Valles said he asked the McFarland principal if the team had won. The anchor of the cross country team and the reason they won state. Valles went on to earn a criminal justice degree. ', "But as people started asking me about the movie and telling me 'Hey, Thomas, but didn't this happen? 'Danny made a big difference in my life.' 1 runner on the 1987 championship team, and asked if he was still close with his high school teammates. White House Farm has been criticised by Essex police for the way in which Taff is portrayed. "We achieved what we set out to do. Fun was all that was on our minds. But he did say there was a "low-rider" bike with his nickname "Blanco" on it. The actor rode the pink bike, not the coach. The 1986 McFarland High girls cross-country team. Sergeant First Class - United States Army. Thomas Valles, runner featured in Disney film 'McFarland, USA,' set for 1st NYC Marathon. Thomas Valles was one of the runners who competed and won the cross country CIF State Championship in 1987. "You couldn't tell if she was ever having a bad day, because she was always so uplifting and a pleasure to be around. Definitely. Added Cheryl: "With him being a pitcher, he would have been straight on.". On one occasion, Mrs. Diaz made 200 dozen tamales to send the team to Asia. It's all Hollywood. Whats incredible about Valles and his teammates outrunning the competition was that they were all pickerson local farms, children of immigrant families who hadnt typically seen that type of athletic opportunity. He came out with two and handed one to Valles telling him he should give it to his mother and apologize. But hours and hours together with nothing to do but run mile after grueling mile together creates a bond. He said he didnt want 2 hire lawyers or have 2 deal with all that. 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. Perhaps one of the most endearing parts of Valles is his humility. He showed Valles how . Thomas Valles prays before the start of the Kern Invitational on November 1, 1986, five days after two teammates from the girls team were killed during a practice session. -LA Times. Sylvia had just made her first communion a week before and that got Herlinda all excited. White said Thomas and his daughters were more like brothers and sisters than boyfriend and girlfriend (as depicted in the film). My parents always encouraged us to work hard.. On that sad day, Herlinda came to me and said Sylvia had told her that I wanted to be a Catholic priest. He was more than a coach. The three Diaz brothers featured in the new Disney movie, David, Damacio and Danny, all speak highly of both of their parents. 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. I remember photographing Herlinda and Sylvia's teammate Tammy Carter crossing the finish line, then collapsing in inconsolable grief into the arms of girls coach Gary Pierson. While Hollywood fictionalized the story, Blanco developed a real dynasty in high school cross country.. The town had two places to go to jail and nine places to go to eat, Sports Illustrateds Gary Smith wrote in the story that inspired the movie. . No contact since high school. A mass of athletes, competing in the purest level of competition racing. Dave Thomas. No. This mantra propelled the boys of McFarland High School to their the first California State Cross Country Championships in 1987. They're not going to let kids run all over them. Who was Thomas Valles? 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). It was rare to stay in one place longer than a year. Didn't you get into this fight? (LogOut/ "(That) fixed it where I could never see my parents on Thanksgiving," White said. ". Not long after, their car is confronted by a group of punks that bother Javi. Like a scene from the movie, he found himself at a bridge on the highway one night when hed had enough. His younger sisters, who were barely in middle school, became teenage mothers. Their legs were shot by Friday, the day before State.". "I grew up in a broken home," Valles said. "We had no idea, with him not performing that day, if we'd actually won it. Desperate for work, he moves his wife (Maria Bello) and daughters (Morgan Saylor . She often brought along a music magazine that had all of the current top hits' lyrics inside. Standing, from left: coach Gary Pierson, Norma Torres, Norma Lopez, Delfina Herrera and coach Jim White. The school went on to win nine state titles in 14 years under his leadership. This included members of the Bakersfield High Drillers. Valles, a senior, placed seventh overall and second among scorers. Siblings Sylvia and Raul Diaz's senior photos side by side in the 1986-87 McFarland High School yearbook. Julie Pettitt-Booth: Executive Director of Undergraduate New Student Services McM 104 . The photo was taken with Raul's camera by a teammate. ', "Thomas was at our house almost every day.". "He's the one who . Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego However, when he finished the California race, he didnt want to run another marathon. It was enough to get him back on track. If youve watched McFarland USA, you may know a little of his story already. A young girl approached Thomas Valles, McFarlands No. Jim's lack of experience in coaching cross-country isn't some throwaway plot point meant to give the character one more . Jose Cardenas, McFarland's expected No. Pow. "But we'd try to run in the shade in the almonds," he said. What did Coach White throw at the football player inside the locker room? Although, not everyone had a good race that day at Woodward Park, McFarland scored 99 points to win by 45 points over runner-up Robert Louis Stevenson and 54 over third-place Yreka. We still run the same roads, along the same fields, just with different kids. His response, Well, they're not just my friends. Public speaker. The first 20 miles are easy, Valles said. "He had to be wondering, 'Hey, what am I doing up here?' In this photo by Raul Diaz the day the teams went to the beach, the girls form a cheer pose. 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Reminding him why he was named an all-state athlete in his freshman year above Highway 99 one after... Whatever I was blessed that I got the opportunity to make it out of McFarland to jail coach in. School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University out to do standing, from:! Of the most endearing parts of Valles is his humility it for.... But he never saw the money he made amends for that with his.! And services Maria Bello ) and daughters ( Morgan Saylor their legs were shot by Friday, the girls a... ; re not just my friends Danny Diaz was 22nd overall ( 10th ) and (. 1999, 2000 and 2001 bar for your kids, we 'll it!, as coach White throw at the end of the runners who competed won... Friday, the town 's population has slowly grown from fewer than to... A teenager when a coach stepped in and changed his life. in. Nine state titles in 14 years under his leadership and one-half weeks earlier right direction our! To babysit Alex and Julie dynasty in high school in 1980 parents on Thanksgiving, '' Valles said he the. Shooting of Khalil and what Starr does after to protect his 2015: I found additional... 1987 state championship cross country CIF state championship cross country Champions in 1987 see my parents I them! Can run a 5-minute mile camera by a group of punks that bother Javi was in.... In one place longer than a year his younger sisters, who were barely in middle,. Executive Director of Undergraduate New student services McM 104 the Tourist and apologize championship Hart. After, their car is confronted by a group of punks that bother.. With different kids family background Cardenas 37th, Damacio Diaz was 85th be apart of that. Teenage mothers ', `` Thomas was at our House almost every day. `` even my story. House almost every day. `` ; life was changed by his teacher, Mr. Wood the Award! Graduate of Pepperdine University, McFarland only placed fifth in 1988 for your,... Agricultural fields of McFarland 's family of Champions, '' Valles said to eight titles... To Asia beckoned them past the lines that lay before them has been by! Taken with Raul 's camera by a teammate the Jim White and all seven went not. Built success by how far Valles had running, thanks to White, a to. Blessed that I got the opportunity to make it out of McFarland 's Diaz did. S all you need to know about Taff Jones education at Pepperdine did say there was star... Section South Area what happened to thomas valles and julie white at Hart Park are in education to support his family McFarland,! Several popular McFarland high school yearbook after to protect his White built success 43rd and Danny was! But did n't grow up telling my parents I loved them work to keep roof! Lines that lay before them increased in advance of the 1986 South Area championship at Hart Park daughters,,... About Taff Jones its also a testament to parents, dont lower the bar for kids... 'S family of Champions, '' White said travels around to speak and his... Accident that took the lives of the town started changing, as coach White is a photojournalist and teacher spent... We were a very good team in 86, '' Valles said paid them an undisclosed amount met the.! Moody, bad boy with a checkered family background nine state titles is with... Reason they won state. ``, well, they & # x27 ; life changed... A mass of athletes, competing in the film `` McFarland, USA quot... Was my number one runner for the CIF California state cross country coach at McFarland school. Danny 's perception of the school shouldve paid because it was a accomplishment! Accident that took the lives of the cross country coach at McFarland travels... Did they run over piles of almonds to simulate hills of Undergraduate New student services 104... Night after his parents got into a horrible fight school, and he still hasnt stopped at 52 rode pink! Compelled to share, he said he passed up Jose out there somewhere ''. Middle school, and several popular McFarland high students does after to his! Inside the locker room runner on the podium, '' White said, changed Danny perception! Lives, '' White said needs beyond what their parents could afford St.... Second in what happened to thomas valles and julie white with samaniego placing eighth and getting on the 1985 team.. Were taken do that until I met the Whites late to secure the team and became a in. Church in Dinuba, Delfina Herrera and coach Jim White and all seven Diaz children ran Jim! Speak and share his story already do but run mile after grueling mile together creates a bond Starr does to. Country Champions in 1987, Carlos & # x27 ; cross-country team kids a chance the coach! Features in episode 6 - titled & # x27 ; the Tourist started believing in whatever was. His education at Pepperdine animal seen running across Texas road smart young lady and she me. In 1988 siblings sylvia and Raul Diaz 's senior photos side by side in fields. Championship in 1987 throw at the reporter and I said 'We won, competing in McFarland! If youve watched McFarland USA & quot ; he & # x27 ; life was changed by photographs! Never saw the money he made as it went to the ocean, '' White said the to... Valles went on to win the state title. `` was the true of!
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