Page 18 - Mid Valley Times 8-12-21 E-edition

FLORES Continued from page A6
Flores shared about the Tom Flores Founda- tion that he started in 1988 for kindergarten through eighth grade students "for their en- hancement in educa- tional opportunities. I'm very proud to say that it's been funded so it will go on in perpetu- ity."
Sanger's favorite son also thanked all of his coaches through his playing career up through the pros, in- cluding Clare Slaugh- ter and Dean Nichol- son. He then said his number one achieve- ment was meeting his wife of 60 years, Bar- bara. He shared how they dated for five years before he could "convince her that I was the guy."
"Barbara, I'm so grateful for you ev- ery day," Flores said while looking out in the crowd to his wife. "You've put up with the good parts and bad parts. You're my big- gest fan and my best friend. And I love you dearly."
After sending lov- ing thoughts to his three children and five grandchildren, Flores turned his attention to the players and alumni he worked with during his coaching and execu- tive career. Particularly with the Raiders, who he won Super Bowls coach- ing as an assistant (1976 season) and head coach (1980, 1983).
"Raider nation is ev-
erywhere," he said to loud applause from Sil- ver and Black fans in attendance. "I spent 55 years of my profession- al life [as a player, assis- tant, head coach, radio announcer, and rep in PR dept]. There's no bet- ter place to have your second home."
Flores called the late Raiders owner, Al Da- vis, "my mentor and my coach." He also acknowl- edged the other profes- sional stops in his play- ing or executive career (Buffalo, Kansas City, Seattle).
"Today on this stage, we're all on one team. One team of gold jack- ets. This is a very emo- tional day for me. I've been blessed with a great life, doing the work that I love with people that I love and adore. I was al- ways happy in the world of football, and now, be- cause of this honor, I'll be part of it forever."
Flores closed his brief-but-powerful ac- ceptance speech by shar- ing the memory of the waning moments of his first Super Bowl win as a head coach; Oakland's 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV.
"One of my assistants (the late) Sam Bogho- sian, also from Cen- tral California...leaned over and looked at me and said, 'Not bad for a couple of grape pick- ers.' And I said 'Sam, not bad at all for a couple of grape pickers.'"
Flores is scheduled to come to Sanger next month for a community celebration.
Fall arrives at Reedley College
Thursday, August 12, 2021 | A18 | Mid Valley TiMes
Students returned to Reedley College for the Fall Semester on Aug. 9; the first day in roughly 17 months since the campus halted live instruction because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While a se- lect few classes had on-campus instruction-tutoring last spring, the campus generally had been closed to the student population for classes until this week.
ABOVE: Students walked in the greenery area north of the Student Union building during the second day of the new semester on Aug. 10.
LEFT: Clerk Robert Avalos from Selma rang up a student customer who was buying class supplies in the college bookstore on Aug. 10.
Photos by Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
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