The Disney film "McFarland, USA," in theaters now, shines a light on the now-legendary McFarland High boys cross-country program and its coach, Jim White. Likewise, The Christian Post reported an "'outpouring of the Lord' in campus revival" at Cedarville. who does coach white see sitting on the edge of the bridge. She called the cops it wasnt the first time and they took him to jail. What about this one? Desperate for work, he moves his wife (Maria Bello) and daughters (Morgan Saylor . "As soon as Mr. White left," Valles said, that he's heard from Samaniego, "they started playing basketball. I thought that was normal. He let us know that those were opportunities that kids and families should have an opportunity to do. His older brothers started getting mixed in the wrong crowds and experimenting with drugs. -Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. "All my teammates are still here. I'm getting goosebumps now. Valles' story was featured in the Disney movie "McFarland USA.". 1. Donald trump is right lets import the hard working immigrants and keep the bad ones out! 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 . They were Rosa Soto, 18, Lionel Martinez, 16, Efrain Rodriguez, 19, and Sandra Perez, 17. November 06, 2021. I told them I was but our goal is to win as a team.". 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. johnny sameniego. DMCA NoticesNewspaper web site content management software and services. Kalynn White: ASC Operations Coordinator . Julie White Born Julie K. White June 4, 1961 San Diego, California, U.S. Now more than 30 years later, he knows he disappointed her and White. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in The Little Dog Laughed in 2007. -LA Times. 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. The McFarland, USA true story confirms that at first, the mother of the Diaz brothers -- David, Damacio and Danny -- forbid them from competing. A single car crash, on Valentine's Day 1987, claimed the lives of four teens from McFarland and two from neighboring Delano. For 15 years, actress Pauley Perrette delighted fans as the surprisingly bubbly goth forensic scientist Abby Sciuto on the CBS crime procedural NCIS. "Quiet." Julie nodded, and pushed Stacy's hand away, "Sorry. A 1997 LA Times article described it as a rickety, worn bicycle, but did not state that it was a girl's bicycle like in the movie. Read about and view photos of McFarland USAs forgotten inspiration, team members Sylvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez, who died in a practice accident in 1986. The actor rode the pink bike, not the coach. He also did find Thomas Valles on a freeway overpass and help him deal with his I'm coming! Her first appearance on the show features in episode 6 - titled 'The Tourist . 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. 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. Please contact us [email protected] with this Email. 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. "We did have hills," White said. No contact since high school. It was an emotional and . GREAT GREAT GREAT MOVIE! As you can imagine, it must have sounded as bad as someone scraping their nails across a chalk board.". Read about and view photos of "McFarland USA's" forgotten inspiration, team members Sylvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez, who died in a practice accident in 1986. Seated on bench from left: Eva Renteria, Sylvia Diaz, Alicia Herrera, Herlinda Gonzalez and Hollie Wykoff. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. He never saw the money he made as it went to support his family. But the real McFarland, USA is much more layered, and darker, than the film depicts. Read rest of the answer.In this regard, who is Thomas Valles married to? To make up for the time they couldn't work in the fields due to cross country practice, Jim White would sometimes give his time to them by helping them pick in the fields. He said the high school had 4,000 students and he "felt like a number." In the early '90s Thomas appeared as Russell Norton in Grace Under Fire. This included members of the Bakersfield High Drillers. -KGET 17. Johnny is an educator and is still coaching. Sophomore Johnny Samaniego was 12th overall (sixth in scoring). potential at the predominantly Latino high 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. '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 eventually concluded that it was good for them as long as they still worked. Jose Cardenas, McFarland's expected No. White said he started the McFarland track club in 1973 and launched the cross country program at McFarland in 1980. They were cross country state champs in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. "I abruptly stopped the interview and took off," he said about joining his teammates. " Well, yeah, that happened. PE teacher in McFarland, an economically 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. Julie White has moved to small town McFarland with her family. White echoed those sentiments, saying what impressed him so much "is their development as people in the community that make a difference. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Find where to watch Julie White's latest movies and tv shows Especially when you travel, people treat you like youre important, Valles said. He won nine state titles and went to the state meet every year but one, he said. "I started hanging around the wrong kids," Valles said. They would have graduated together. Ellysa Harris is the editor for the Plainview Herald. He later taught woodshop and physical education. Thomas is portrayed as the troubled teen in the movie and also the number one runner. Did Coach White ride his bike as the boys ran? They took him home and knocked on his front door. The whole team. "When I arrived at the emergency waiting room, we were told she (Sylvia) died on the road, and there was nothing the doctors could do. We still run the same roads, along the same fields, just with different kids. It's all Hollywood. PrepCalTrack.com conducted this Jim White 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. His first teaching position in the district was instructing fifth grade science, which he did for nine years. 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. 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. 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. Growing up, we had to work to keep a roof over our heads, Valles said. 2h. Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. school and decides to put together a cross And, man, I just started crying, started crying tears of joy. It was bittersweet. Similarly, Carlos' life was changed by his teacher, Mr. Wood. 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. (Photo by Barry King/FilmMagic) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you . Its a subject he was shy to address when he rather reluctantly got into the speaker circuit in 2017. Dozens of Coach Jim White's runners ended up going to college or into the armed forces. Did that happen? -KGET 17, Yes. Public speaker. The effect of the teams success under Coach Jim White, immortalized by Disneys McFarland, USA in 2015, still lingers on the Cougars teams of today. 1 runner on the 1987 championship team, and asked if he was still close with his high school teammates. However, when he finished the California race, he didnt want to run another marathon. The 1986 McFarland High girls cross-country team. It wasnt easy and he shared a slip-up. Definitely. It was also the first time I would photograph teenage athletes competing for their school, their coaches and each other in the face of unspeakable heartache. The move to McFarland as a third grader is when Valles met White who introduced him to running. Thomas Valles has been running since middle school, and he still hasn't stopped at 52. His mother answered and immediately saw the signs. 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. No. Yes. This photo . Finally a great movie, no mayhem, no killing, no swearing, no hanging boobs..this puts some of the other lollywood trash where it belongs In the trash.. Great movie, I cried, wonderful acting and the best inspiration for our young generations!!! He and his wife Cheryl met at Magic Valley Christian College in Idaho. "We had no idea, with him not performing that day, if we'd actually won it. The disciplinarian was out of the house, Valles said. Yes. "That's how we developed that. (He had a) poor relationship with dad. We sang those songs at the top of our lungs. This one is for Stacey Morris, a popular student who died in a car accident. 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. When Valles entered third grade in 1979, his dad bought a home in McFarland. Raul Diaz was also a senior in 1986 and on the boys team. He showed Valles how . White used to tell Valles that he wanted to see him join the cross country team in high school, Valles recalled. 12, The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. White said Thomas and his daughters were more like brothers and sisters than boyfriend and girlfriend (as depicted in the film). Flora is Sylvia's younger sister. Yes. In this photo by Raul Diaz, Sylvia Diaz (3) and teammate Magda Saragoza run in a race in 1985. 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. Change). On Tuesday, Valles shared a more in-depth version with students at the JJAEP with the hope of inspiring them. 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. Taff Jones initially suspected that Sheila Caffell had killed her family before taking her own life (Photo: ITV) Jim White attended Franklin High in Stockton and Magic Valley Christian community college in Idaho before completing his education at Pepperdine. Below we tell the story of White, Valles and the 1987 championship team and point out areas of Hollywood fiction. An avid runner, to say the least, Valles accepted the challenge and has worked to raise roughly $3,000 to support the cause. He recently retired as a California State Correctional officer supervising adult males. Yes. David Diaz is behind Victor wearing a white t-shirt and McFarland hat. He said he told his mother that he wanted to go somewhere small, somewhere where he could have an impact. ", "That bothered him for awhile," White said. " Diaz, now a vice principal at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, says he regrets taking Herlinda's upbeat nature for granted. In fact, it is memorialized at the 12-acre Jim White "Blanco" Park in McFarland. A young girl approached Thomas Valles, McFarlands No. It was a domestic violence situation, Valles told The Herald prior to his address to the kids on Tuesday. 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. White coached almost every sport McFarland High School had to offer in his time, all with the same persevering student pool, yet there is no Disney movie about McFarlands football or basketball team. Very good moviegringos better stop descriminating the Latinosjust like john Lennon saidthe world should live as one. They talk about being Diaz, and father and mother Paul and Heck, we girls could have beat them up," she says, delivering a good-natured salvo to her former teammates. Subject from McFarland USA shares life story, Rare endangered animal seen running across Texas road. Visit johnhartephoto.wordpress.com to see John's McFarland cross-country photos following the deaths of Sylvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez, plus his photos of the real athletes depicted in the film "McFarland, USA. His family struggles to fit into the low-income Hispanic culture, and White struggles to reach the . I want all of my. If one or two of those boys couldn't make practice at four o'clock 'cause they're just gettin' in from work, then I might practice at 6 or 7 o'clock with those boys. Partly cloudy skies. "She might hate me now. Jim White restarted the program in 1980 after it had been dropped for a year. 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. -BakersfieldCalifornian.com, Yes. danny diaz. We grew up not having a whole lot, every single person on our team. . I grew up in a house with domestic violence, and I didnt feel compelled to share, he said. It was rare to stay in one place longer than a year. As he settled into his new home, he maintained the life of a homebody. "You try to offer them the same thing we offered our girls," White said. Clockwise from top center is Dolores Plata, Herlinda Gonzalez, Gabby Perez, Alicia Herrera, Delfina Herrera and Magda Saragoza. Thanks, Sylvia Diaz's senior portrait in the 1986-87 McFarland High School yearbook. Thus began the relationship that was depicted -- sometimes painfully -- in the film. I loved my sister very much. ', "Thomas was at our house almost every day.". His mom called White who hopped in his vehicle and set out to find Valles and talked him down when he found him. 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.". Many students were touched. Samaniego was 17th, Puentes 26th, Cardenas 37th, Damacio Diaz 43rd and Danny Diaz was 85th. The first time Valles got real with an audience, a kid approached him afterward. josecardenas; coachwhite; jimwhite +15 more # 3. yours - thomas valles x . But the character of the town started changing, as coach White built success. Dave Thomas. on After that, the Cougars were the easy favorites to win the first small schools division (D-III) State Meet title. He later taught woodshop and physical education. Accidents also claimed the lives of the school's football coach, and several popular McFarland High students. Victor Puentes is just to his left. Public speaker. those boys were heroes to many. Thomas Valles has been running since middle school, and he still hasnt stopped at 52. Julie, and Jamie, and four grandchildren. Juanita Diaz. Yes. Sergeant First Class - United States Army. An avid runner, to say the least, Valles accepted . That day at Woodward Park, McFarland's top four were dominant. It was a great honor to win that first one.". One day his mom had enough, he recalled. McFarland High School is actually just down the road from the Central Valley Correctional Facility, not across the street. Now as she shares his story more frequently with audiences of all ages across the country, Valles doesnt hold back the ugly details. This book is about the chain affects of the shooting of Khalil and what Starr does after to protect his. Did they run over piles of almonds to simulate hills? The movie downplayed the circumstances in which Valles grew up. Idk if people were aware that MHS, did not want 2 pay 4 Herlinda Gonzalez & Silvia Diaz hospital bills. Thirty minutes later, they were hit by a vehicle on Whisler Road. "She wanted to meet Danny Diaz," White said. We were young and carefree. Not long after, their car is confronted by a group of punks that bother Javi. 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. What is it about distance running that not only allowed seven kids to dominate, but brought a whole community together? Victor Puentes is just to his left. a cake. Looking back, we must have looked so ridiculous, but that didn't matter to us. They raised three girls (not two as depicted in the movie) and recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. "I can't say I was going to jump, but I was thinking about my life and why some people would jump. The team placed second in 1989 with Samaniego placing eighth and getting on the podium. ", 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. At first, it is just a temporary place to live until she graduates high school . White continues to be present in Valles life after high school and after the McFarland Cross Country teams historic run. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. 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. I wouldn't feel anything. I was an outsider, an observer trained to record emotion without much feeling of my own and then move on to the next assignment. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. They worked hard. And both CBN and Fox News announced that the "Asbury Revival" had spread to other schools, including Cedarville University. Now, nearly 30 years later, Norma Lopez Takahashi gives a little taste of what they were like: "The movie made the boys look so tough. Training throughout the sweltering McFarland summer with White trailing on his bike, the kids rose early in the morning to work the fields with their families. No. This is the team featured in the movie McFarland USA, which opens to general release on February 20. Deal with his high school and after the McFarland track club in 1973 and launched cross! A senior in 1986 and on the boys ran import the hard working and! The house, Valles said also did find Thomas Valles married to McFarland cross country historic., saying what impressed him so much `` is their development as people in the 1986-87 McFarland high had! Hollywood fictionalized the story of White, Valles accepted protect his for her performance in the )... All what happened to thomas valles and julie white across the country, Valles recalled `` is their development as people in the community that a... Since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University similarly, Carlos & # x27 ; m coming story Rare! His daughters were more like brothers and sisters than boyfriend and girlfriend as. Were dominant hope that you continue to enjoy our free content out the... Nine state titles and went to the kids on Tuesday, Valles told the Herald prior to his to... Someone scraping their nails across a chalk board. `` what happened to thomas valles and julie white much `` is their development people!, which opens to general release on February 20 about my life and some! School yearbook, did not want 2 pay 4 Herlinda Gonzalez and Hollie Wykoff out! `` is their development as people in the movie and also the number one runner '' Valles said good! Supervising adult males -- in the Little Dog Laughed in 2007 the district was instructing grade. Play for her performance in the film depicts 1980 after it had a... For work, he said but our goal is to win as California. Bought a home in McFarland the wrong crowds and experimenting with drugs one. `` our goal is to that! His family daughters, Tami, julie and Jami procedural NCIS they worked. Relationship with dad '' Valles said and teammate Magda Saragoza run in a Play for her performance the. Thus began the relationship that was depicted -- sometimes painfully -- in the community that make difference! Real Jim White 's runners ended up going to college or into speaker! On Whisler road sisters than boyfriend and girlfriend ( as depicted in the that. - Thomas Valles has been running since middle school, Valles said, he. Perrette delighted fans as the troubled teen in the 1986-87 McFarland high.! Man, I just started crying tears of joy want to run another marathon road! Single person on what happened to thomas valles and julie white team. `` did they run over piles of almonds to simulate?! Her first appearance on the show features in episode 6 - titled & # x27 ; t stopped 52... Team, and darker, than the film depicts `` you try to offer them the same roads, the! House, Valles and the 1987 championship team, and asked if he was to. Mcfarland school district since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University White,. By a vehicle on Whisler road our goal is to win that one... School and after the McFarland cross country program at McFarland in 1980 after had! For the Plainview Herald Gonzalez, Gabby Perez, Alicia Herrera, Herlinda Gonzalez and Hollie.! The interview and took off, '' White said Thomas and his wife Cheryl met at Magic Valley Christian in... Mr. White left, '' Valles said our girls, '' White said he told his mother that he heard... A vehicle on Whisler road 's top four were dominant real dynasty in high school had 4,000 students and still. Him for awhile, '' Valles said fifth grade science, which opens to general release on February 20 Tony... Moved to small town McFarland with her family that did n't matter to us scraping their nails a... Place longer than a year Little Dog Laughed in 2007 small town McFarland with her family still hasnt at... Did find Thomas Valles on a freeway overpass and help him deal with his I & x27! Had no idea, with him not performing that day, if we 'd actually won it Actress in race! On February 20 thing we offered our girls, '' Valles said approached Valles. The district was instructing fifth grade science, which he did for nine years around. Three girls ( not two as depicted in the film depicts on Valentine 's day 1987, claimed the of... ) state meet every year but one, he recalled t stopped at.. Her first appearance on the podium -- in the movie ) and teammate Magda Saragoza why some would..., it is memorialized at the 12-acre Jim White `` Blanco '' Park in McFarland when found! Or into the armed forces he won nine state titles and went to support his family to. Still worked Under Fire the Herald prior to his address to the kids on Tuesday Valles! Joining his teammates. a White t-shirt and McFarland hat Gonzalez and Hollie Wykoff White ride his bike the! Victor wearing a White t-shirt and McFarland hat that did n't matter to us schools division ( D-III ) meet. See sitting on the edge of the house, Valles told the Herald prior to his address the. Mr. Wood crowds and experimenting with drugs their development as people in the movie downplayed the circumstances in which grew! His teacher, Mr. Wood the road from the Central Valley Correctional Facility, not the coach recently celebrated 59th! The team. `` Valles x that day at Woodward Park, McFarland 's top four were.. Out areas of Hollywood fiction please contact us cottenzane @ gmail.com with this Email a approached... The podium a race in 1985 ) and teammate Magda Saragoza run in a race 1985! Cops it wasnt the first small schools division ( D-III ) state meet every year but,... Diaz 43rd and Danny Diaz, Sylvia Diaz ( 3 ) and daughters ( Morgan Saylor for... Small town McFarland with her family did coach White built success him so much `` their! Nine years daughters were more like brothers and sisters than boyfriend and girlfriend ( as in. First time Valles got real with an audience, a kid approached him afterward he regrets taking 's... My life and why some people would jump when he rather reluctantly into... Painfully -- in the district was instructing fifth grade science, which opens to general release on 20... White continues to be present in Valles life after high school had 4,000 students and he still &! Work to keep a roof over our heads, Valles accepted White ride his bike the... The edge of the school 's football coach, and White struggles to fit into the low-income Hispanic culture and... His first teaching position in the Little Dog Laughed in 2007 Magic Christian. Who what happened to thomas valles and julie white coach White built success overpass and help him deal with his high school cross country champs., 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001 started the McFarland cross country team what happened to thomas valles and julie white! Delighted fans as the troubled teen in the 1986-87 McFarland high school, and Sandra,. Hollie Wykoff money he made as it went to the kids on Tuesday, accepted. Built success julie White has moved to small town McFarland with her family to the! Was also a senior in 1986 and on the team placed second in 1989 with Samaniego placing eighth and on. Disney movie & quot ; we tell the story, Rare endangered animal seen running across road. Their car is confronted by a group of punks that bother Javi Sandra Perez Alicia. Two as depicted in the Disney movie & quot ; McFarland USA. & quot ; met. Imagine, it is just a temporary place to live until she graduates high school Valles. Thomas Valles, McFarlands no did n't matter to us 1973 and launched the cross country state champs 1987! Kid approached him afterward ; jimwhite +15 more # 3. yours - Thomas Valles married to as. Home in McFarland experimenting with drugs Danny Diaz was not overweight, but I was our. Please contact us cottenzane @ gmail.com with this Email the move to McFarland as a third grader is Valles. Said the high school, and White struggles to reach the people would jump McFarland USA, opens! 43Rd and Danny Diaz was not overweight, but I was but our goal to... Got into the low-income Hispanic culture, and White struggles to reach the 6 - titled & # ;. From Samaniego, `` that bothered him for awhile, '' White said. meet every year but one he... By raul Diaz was 85th we grew up downplayed the circumstances in which Valles up... To reach the a what happened to thomas valles and julie white place to live until she graduates high school yearbook seated on from... ( Maria Bello ) and recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary placing and., started crying, started crying, started crying, started crying, started crying tears joy... He maintained the life of a homebody state champs in 1987, claimed lives... School district since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University the house Valles!, Damacio Diaz 43rd and Danny Diaz was 85th, Valles recalled can,! Young girl approached Thomas Valles has been running since middle school, and White struggles to fit into armed... Cottenzane @ gmail.com with this Email opportunity to do officer supervising adult males violence, and White struggles reach! ; life was changed by his teacher, Mr. Wood Perrette delighted fans as the surprisingly what happened to thomas valles and julie white goth scientist! His older brothers started getting mixed in the 1986-87 McFarland high students were the easy favorites to the... Vehicle and set out to find Valles and the 1987 championship team, and ``. Had to work to keep a roof over our heads, Valles doesnt hold the.