Thomas Valles and Julie White are real-life individuals who were depicted in the 2015 film “McFarland, USA.” Thomas Valles was a member of the 1987 McFarland high school cross-country team that won a state championship, and Julie White was the character based on the real-life Cheryl White, the wife of coach Jim White. After their high school successes, Thomas went on to lead a private life, while the Whites continued to be involved in the McFarland community.
Thomas Valles was one of the standout athletes on the McFarland high school cross-country team, which was coached by Jim White. The team’s journey to the state championship was a significant achievement, given the socio-economic challenges faced by the predominantly Latino team in a small California town. After graduating, Thomas Valles continued to run and eventually became a coach and mentor to young athletes, often drawing on his own experiences to inspire others.
Julie White, as portrayed in the film, is a fictionalized version of Cheryl White. In real life, Cheryl played a supportive role in her husband’s coaching career and the lives of the McFarland runners. The Whites became pillars of the McFarland community, with Jim White retiring from coaching in 2003 but remaining active in the community. The couple’s dedication to the town and its residents has left a lasting impact, and they are remembered fondly by many of the students they helped mentor, including Thomas Valles.
