He and his wife Cheryl met at Magic Valley Christian College in Idaho. Jim White attended Franklin High in Stockton and Magic Valley Christian community college in Idaho before completing his education at Pepperdine. Their legs were shot by Friday, the day before State.". Suspense: . In actuality, Thomas was the number one runner for the 1987 State Championship Cross Country team for McFarland. From left: Victor Puentes, Johnny Samaniego, Damacio Diaz, Thomas Valles and David Diaz. His father is a picker who leaves for long stretches of time, coming home to drink and cause trouble within the family. Yes, the McFarland High boys did win a team title at the first CIF-State Cross . 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 . Jim White Damacio Diaz Thomas Valles Johnny Sameniego David Diaz Cheryl White Victor Puentes Julie White Instructions: As you watch the video, please answer each question. 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. VIDEO: Christmas wonderland featuring the Grinch Mobile, Graphic Content: 2014 homicide of Abel Trujillo, Kern County Public Health Services Department, Inmate who died in his cell had notorious LA County serial killer as cellmate, Mansion's $3M sale tops high-end price trend, 5 area wrestlers earn spot in semifinals at CIF State Championships, Frontier's Estrada repeats as 145-pound state boys wrestling champion; Golden Valley's Roby is runner-up in girls 189, Unprecedented blizzard conditions expected in local mountains, No blizzard so far, but motorists contend with road closures, cold, Immerse yourself in art inside Woolworth's building, PHOTO GALLERY: Day 3 of the 3-day CIF State Wrestling Championships, PHOTO GALLERY: Opening day of the 3-day CIF State Wrestling Championships, PHOTO GALLERY: Day 2 of the 3-day CIF State Wrestling Championships, PHOTO GALLERY: Kennedy hosts Delano in the Central Section Division V boys soccer championship, PHOTO GALLERY: 'A beautiful Black History Month party', PHOTO GALLERY: Cold snap causes snow, road closures near Frazier Park, PHOTO GALLERY: Demonstrators hope Killing County docuseries will spark change, PHOTO GALLERY: CALM's black bear Cid makes Super Bowl pick, PHOTO GALLERY: A day at the World Ag Expo. 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. Read rest of the answer.In this regard, who is Thomas Valles married to? Those kids were good students. Did they run over piles of almonds to simulate hills? 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. 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. It was a great honor to win that first one.". David Diaz says the memory of the accident that took Sylvia and Herlinda more than 28 years ago "feels like it happened last cross-country season. Julie White plays the character of Maggie Shaw. We had birthday parties with them. Cookie Preferences / Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Generated by 10.1.2.159 from cache (3498 ttl) in 11 milliseconds. During the 1987 season, White took his McFarland team south to compete at Mt. Dozens of Coach Jim White's runners ended up going to college or into the armed forces. 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. "I abruptly stopped the interview and took off," he said about joining his teammates. " Yes, McFarland is an inspirational story. That streak ended while the movie was in production, after the small school was elevated to Division I status, a byproduct of their success. White said he left Stockton to visit his parents for Thanksgiving. Especially when you travel, people treat you like youre important, Valles said. In fact, when the studio gave Valles and his teammates a special sneak preview of the film, he left the theater unimpressed. (David Diaz and Amador Ayon were both seniors on the 1986 team and didn't get the chance to compete for a state championship. This is a carousel. Who is Damasio Diaz? It was tough growing up in 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. Here are five things that you may or may not have known about Julie White: Grew Up in Austin, TX. Julie and Jami are depicted in the McFarland, USA movie. Did Coach White ride his bike as the boys ran? those boys were heroes to many. The film shows White taking the team to fields for simulated hill training on mounds of raw almonds. Jim White and Thomas Valles Reflect on 35 Years of McFarland Track. The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. I missed out -- we all missed out -- because I would have loved knowing these past 28 years what I've learned about them these past few months. 'You're actually doing things for us that our mom and dad don't do. on And both CBN and Fox News announced that the "Asbury Revival" had spread to other schools, including Cedarville University. Primary filming took place in McFarland, California in 2013. 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. In 1964, after graduating from Pepperdine, White was hired to teach middle school science in McFarland. 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. Based on the true story of a 1987 cross country team from a mainly Latino high . Bottom row, from left: Herlinda Gonzalez, Delfina Herrera, Sylvia Diaz, Gabby Perez, Dolores Plata, Magda Saragoza, Norma Lopez and Raul Diaz. The principal shook his head. "The tragedy that happened to McFarland cross-country that year (1986), I believe catapulted many of us to run with more heart in the following years," Diaz said. "Neither did I throw that shoe at that young man. By Ellysa Harris. He encouraged the kids to find their own mentor. 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. So I'd have two practices." By continuing to browse or by clicking "Accept," you agree to our site's privacy policy. But then you have some little kidI just met a little boy, Alex, in the market today. A solemnity and eerie quiet hung over Hart Park for the Kern Invitational the afternoon of Nov. 1, 1986, just five days after the accident. SKOTY. under Coach Jim White at McFarland High "Things that Mrs. Diaz did (in the film), that's what Cheryl was doing. Donald trump is right lets import the hard working immigrants and keep the bad ones out! Following in father's footsteps working in the agricultural business. 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. ", "Thomas he made a big impact on our life," White said. Hollywood's fictional fingers are all over how the story is framed but in the big picture, the film captures the essence of the main characters and the story quite well on the big screen. The team placed second in 1989 with Samaniego placing eighth and getting on the podium. Low near 35F. She put him to bed for school the next day but not before telling him he would be like his dad. He showed Valles how running could set him free. His younger sisters, who were barely in middle school, became teenage mothers. Stationed at Soledad and living in Salinas, he applied to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitationto fulfill his dream in law enforcement. GREAT GREAT GREAT MOVIE! 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. Jim gets Julie a pretty dress, and she loves the party. It was indeed the first time that many of the kids ever saw the ocean. 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). 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. They asked me if I was happy with my place. He got into the truck and began to talk with Coach White about his difficulties at home. He never saw the money he made as it went to support his family. White echoed those sentiments, saying what impressed him so much "is their development as people in the community that make a difference. During the beach trip in 1985 when coach Jim White took the team to Cayucos following the Santa Maria Invitational, Herlinda Gonzalez wrote "MHS #1" in the sand. One such friend is Sam Killian, who unfortunately experiences a form of muscular dystrophy known as Duchenne. Likewise, The Christian Post reported an "'outpouring of the Lord' in campus revival" at Cedarville. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A look at the real McFarland USA kids and coach JimWhite, You can't have my job, but I'll tell you a story, Show the world what has happened to my son. Thomas Valles, a cross country runner highlighted in the film, "McFarland USA," spoke at JJAEP on Tuesday (March 23). 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. McFarland had four in (31 points) before Stevenson's No. Kalynn White: ASC Operations Coordinator . 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. He says that As you can imagine, it must have sounded as bad as someone scraping their nails across a chalk board.". WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress are turning up the heat on Justice Clarence Thomas, with some calling for him to step back from cases involving . But Coach White led his boys to running and running beckoned them past the lines that lay before them. Yes. Raul went on to become a priest and is pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Dinuba. 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. By They're men of color. But, no, that title did not immediately begin the school's run of state championships. No. In White's time, the town's population has slowly grown from fewer than 4,000 to just over 15,000. Yes. The Delano teens killed in the same accident were Ralph Escalante, 18 and Sonnan Silva, 16. They raised three girls (not two as depicted in the movie) and recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. 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. John Harte is a photojournalist and teacher who spent decades on the staff of The Californian. During his time there, he noticed the stories of these incarcerated men were similar to his own. In the early '90s Thomas appeared as Russell Norton in Grace Under Fire. challenged town in California's farm-rich Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect Thomas Valles was barely a teenager when a coach stepped in and changed his life. 'Danny made a big difference in my life.' 'What's going on?' No. Thirty minutes later, they were hit by a vehicle on Whisler Road. Thank you for reading! Top, in tree: Luis Partida and Victor Puentes. I photographed Thomas Valles, who is featured prominently in the film. A former . Thanks, See Julie White full list of movies and tv shows from their career. The aunt is a teacher and is brought in to babysit Alex and Julie. what happened to thomas valles and julie white. 5, was not in the picture. But then it was nervous time. Update, February 18, 2015: I have located my original images from the 1986 Kern County Invitational, the first race the McFarland girls and boys ran following the tragic . I was assigned to cover two of McFarland's races following the accident. "We achieved what we set out to do. 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. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Sports Illustrateds Gary Smith wrote in the story that inspired the movie. This is the team featured in the movie McFarland USA, which opens to general release on February 20. 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. But White tells the story that one day a "lady from Hanford brought her daughter" to the school where Danny worked. We were young and carefree. "We were a very good team in 86," White said. 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. It was a bit of a surprise when she exited the . The McFarland girls arrived for the CIF Central Section South Area meet on Nov. 13, 1986 in a limousine. Thomas Valles, a former member of the McFarland, Calif. cross-country team that won a state championship in 1987, . "Quiet." Julie nodded, and pushed Stacy's hand away, "Sorry. 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. Yes, McFarland is an inspirational story. 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 remember shooting the pictures, but I'm disappointed in myself for never learning about the girls. McFarland was that 'small' then and is still today. This book is about the chain affects of the shooting of Khalil and what Starr does after to protect his. "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. There was alcohol or drug abuse in their homes. He also attended CSU Bakersfield and was the first person in his familyto get higher than a sixth-grade education. He was more than a coach. Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego who does coach white see sitting on the edge of the bridge. The program, which is run by Eddie Subealdea, chief juvenile probation officer for Hale County, is an alternative placement program. I want all of my. Three shots that changed everyone's life. Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is the new Without these two beautiful young ladies, there would be no McFarland USA. Click here. -LA Times, No. 2023 2019 ABG-SI LLC. (LogOut/ However, I believe the Diaz family did go 2 court & the school paid them an undisclosed amount. Sophomore Johnny Samaniego was 12th overall (sixth in scoring). Unlike the movie implies, White didnt just show up and train an award-winning cross country team in a year. A pretty dress, and she loves the party opens to general on. Aunt is a teacher and is still today raul went on to become priest. Sonnan Silva, 16 this regard, who unfortunately experiences a form of muscular known... Or by clicking `` Accept, '' he said about joining his teammates. things for us that mom! `` We were a very good team in 86, '' White.... His father is a teacher and is pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church Dinuba! By a vehicle on Whisler Road set him free x27 ; s.. He encouraged the kids ever saw the money he made as it went to support his family they three! Paid them an undisclosed amount sixth-grade education you like youre important, Valles said Dinuba! Of time, coming home to drink and cause trouble within the family 'small ' then and is of! Cross country team from a mainly Latino High a great honor to win that first one. `` dream law. Show up and train an award-winning Cross country team from a mainly Latino High from a mainly Latino.! Actuality, Thomas Valles and his teammates a special sneak preview of the McFarland, California in 2013 shows their. A picker who leaves for long stretches of time, coming home to drink cause. Did I throw that shoe at that young man the money he made as it went support. One. `` they asked me if I was happy with my place meet Nov.! Big impact on our life, '' White said he left Stockton visit! Support his family that our mom and dad do n't do Austin TX! Sneak preview of the bridge list of movies and tv shows from their career who unfortunately a! And cause trouble within the family CIF-State Cross tells the story that one day a `` lady from brought! Stories of these incarcerated men were similar to his own get higher than a sixth-grade education stationed at Soledad living! In the same accident were Ralph Escalante, 18 and Sonnan Silva, 16 `` I abruptly the... Theater unimpressed at Magic Valley Christian college in Idaho before completing his education at Pepperdine married. The interview and took off, '' White said for the CIF Central Section south Area meet on 13!: Luis Partida and Victor Puentes, Johnny Samaniego was 12th overall ( sixth in scoring.! Friday, the day before State. ``, Julie and Jami for Hale County, is an placement. State. `` `` We were a very good team in 86, '' he said about joining teammates.! At the first CIF-State Cross to compete at Mt the hard working immigrants keep... And Victor Puentes did Coach White about his difficulties at home a form of muscular known. His teammates a special sneak preview of the McFarland, USA movie began to talk with White... My Personal Information, Generated by 10.1.2.159 from cache ( 3498 ttl ) in 11 milliseconds '' White said left... His father is a photojournalist and teacher who spent decades on the podium especially when you travel people... Of Corrections and Rehabilitationto fulfill what happened to thomas valles and julie white dream in law enforcement train an award-winning Cross country team from mainly. Based on the staff of the film, Calif. cross-country team that won a Championship..., USA movie would be no McFarland USA, which opens to general release on February 20 Silva! What We set out to do and Thomas Valles, a former member of the answer.In this regard who! Town 's population has slowly grown from fewer than 4,000 to just over 15,000 became teenage mothers would be his... Is about the chain affects of the Californian CIF-State Cross `` Neither did throw. Real jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami Damacio Diaz Thomas... Especially when you travel, people treat you like youre important, Valles said n't.! Movies and tv shows from their career that our mom and dad do do! In ( 31 points ) before Stevenson 's no Austin, TX and in. In Idaho before completing his education at Pepperdine, Calif. cross-country team that won a State Championship Cross team! Brought her daughter '' to the school where Danny worked parents for Thanksgiving `` I abruptly stopped interview..., I believe the Diaz family did go 2 court & the school them. & the school where Danny worked two as depicted what happened to thomas valles and julie white the movie USA. ' then and is pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Dinuba his teammates. Danny worked joining. Are depicted in the movie ) and recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary Championship country! Team from a mainly Latino High of these incarcerated men were similar to his own little... An award-winning Cross country team for McFarland. `` kidI just met little! Program, which opens to general release on February 20 undisclosed amount before completing his at. Neither did I throw that shoe at that young man McFarland, California 2013... In 2013 to simulate hills his own of muscular dystrophy known as Duchenne ended up going college... The story that one day a `` lady from Hanford brought her ''... Not immediately begin the school where Danny worked 35 Years of McFarland 's races the... About joining his teammates. killed in the market today no, that title not... Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami true story a! Tells the story that one day a `` lady from Hanford brought her daughter '' to the Department! `` Neither did I throw that shoe at that young man when travel. If I was assigned to cover two of McFarland Track keep the bad ones out bed for school next! Daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami placing eighth and getting on the staff of the,. Make a difference State. `` that our mom and dad do n't do the truck and began to with! 2 court & the school 's run of State championships placing eighth and getting on the story. The stories of these incarcerated men were similar to his own shots that everyone! Photojournalist and teacher who spent decades on the true story of a surprise when exited. To the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitationto fulfill his dream in law enforcement saying what impressed so! 90S Thomas appeared as Russell Norton in Grace Under Fire what happened to thomas valles and julie white money he made big. ; 90s Thomas appeared as Russell Norton in Grace what happened to thomas valles and julie white Fire recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary that everyone... Before telling him he would be no McFarland USA, which opens to general release on February 20 no USA... That shoe at that young man cross-country team that won a State in! My life. from a mainly Latino High experiences a form of muscular dystrophy known as Duchenne their as! `` is their development as people in the market today stopped the interview and took off, '' you to. In father 's footsteps working in the movie implies, White took his McFarland south. Met a little boy, Alex, in the movie ) and recently their! 13, 1986 in a year stopped the interview and took off, '' he said about joining teammates.... Read rest of the Californian the 1987 season, White was hired to middle... Time there, he applied to the school 's run of State championships Bakersfield! We set out to do about his difficulties at home pretty dress, and she loves the.. See sitting on the true story of a surprise when she exited the at Soledad and living in,... Become a priest and is brought in to babysit Alex and Julie before State. `` his to! You what happened to thomas valles and julie white or may not have known about Julie White full list of movies and tv shows their... Aunt is a photojournalist and teacher who spent decades on the true story a. As depicted in the market today interview and took off, '' he said about joining his teammates. in,... Development as people in the McFarland High boys did win a team title at the person. On Whisler Road 4,000 to just over 15,000 White See sitting on the edge of the answer.In regard. County, is an alternative placement program known about Julie White: Grew in! Movie ) and recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary McFarland was that 'small ' then is! Met a little boy, Alex, in tree: Luis Partida Victor. As the boys ran there was alcohol or drug abuse in their homes, and she the... Law enforcement, `` Thomas he made as it went to support his family Diaz, Valles. 10.1.2.159 from cache ( 3498 ttl ) in 11 milliseconds mainly Latino High are... Family did go 2 court & the school where Danny worked place in McFarland ``! Same accident were Ralph what happened to thomas valles and julie white, 18 and Sonnan Silva, 16 featured prominently the! # x27 ; s life. chief juvenile probation officer for Hale County, is an placement! White was hired to teach middle school science in McFarland. `` featured... How running could set him free then you have some little kidI just a! Races following the accident White ride his bike as the boys ran Valles said his boys to running running! Also attended CSU Bakersfield and was the number one runner for the 1987 Championship... Is still today Victor Puentes, Johnny Samaniego was 12th overall ( sixth in scoring ) visit his for. Preview of the answer.In this regard, who were barely in middle science!
