The BigView: Be Anything
by Chris Murphy and Body by Middagh Goodwin
It is a big world out there. The sky is full of stars and dreams. What’s important is that you can be anything you want to be. With an education, some coaching, mentoring, or maybe just some raw natural talent, you can take your dreams’ path. Reaching your dreams doesn’t always end up on TV or the silver screen, but it can make a big difference in our world. It is incredible to see the success of our own George Lucas or cheer for the comeback of Jeremy Renner after his injury. For every Tim Olyphant, there is Joan L Mitchell, who changed the world in different ways. Sometimes, the smallest dreams can become something extraordinary.
Lourdes Uranday inspired us for this issue and is one of those dreamers, and she was the inspiration of this feature. Born and raised in the Central Valley, she attended Fresno State and after working in HR management in the food industry, she arrived in Modesto with her master’s degree, business management skills and her desire to make a difference. Throughout her life, she has been a Barbie collector and took her passion into one of the best collections anywhere, opening the Be Anything Museum at 1111 I St in Modesto. She is helping many local organizations “be anything” with grant writing and business consulting while bringing imagination to downtown Modesto. As we celebrate Black History Month, you can see the first black Barbie, the first black woman billionaire, Rosa Parks Barbie, and other great career role models. Take some time to visit this museum. You will enjoy it. Her excitement for our community and opportunity is contagious. She plans on expanding this space as much as possible, and if you are a local organization, her grant-writing skills are an asset.
As Barbie fans, the motto of “you can be anything” really rings true. As parents of girls, we worked hard to empower our girls and encourage them to be all they can, be strong, honest, and caring. The world needs more if this right now.
Some amazing people have called Modesto home. Some accomplishments are not famous but have changed the way we live. The ever-intrepid Middagh Goodwin finds the most amazing information and has really found some fantastic Modestans that you may not have known about. Let’s meet some of them.
Lawyer/Activist
Chicano Activist and Hunter S. Thompson’s lawyer Oscar “Zeta” Acosta Fierro. Did you know he was raised in Riverbank and attended Modesto Junior College? He was immortalized in Hunter S. Thompson’s book and movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Computer Scientist/Engineer
Joan L. Mitchell was born in Modesto and graduated from Downey High School before graduating from Stanford. She co-invented the JPG. Her early inventions in printing technology led to IBM’s Selectric Quietwriter typewriter. At the time of her death, she had 110 patents.
Scientist Anatomy, embryology
Herbert McLean Evans was born and raised in Modesto, graduating from Modesto High School in 1900.He graduated from Johns Hopkins University. He discovered vitamin E. In 1915, he was made professor of anatomy at the University of California, Berkeley, and held that position until his death.
Writer/Director/Comic Artist/Actor
Calvin Wong was born and raised in Modesto, California, USA. He graduated from Modesto High School and attended Cal Berkeley. He is a writer and director known for Regular Show, Close Enough, and Regular Show: The Movie. He is also a comic illustrator and actor.
Musician/Songwriter
Chantry Johnson is a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist born and raised in Modesto and graduated from Beyer High School. His skills across multiple pop music genres have landed him production and songwriting credits with artists like David Archuleta, Lana Del Rey, Lost Kings, and Emblem 3. Chantry has also done extensive work for Disney television, movies, parks, and cruise lines, performed by artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Jordin Sparks, Corbin Bleu, Meg Donnelley, and more. Check out the Johnsons, his band, with his brothers Clayton and Connor.
Writer
Jo Clayton, born in Modesto, wrote 35 published novels and many short stories. She wrote in both the fantasy and the SF genres. Her best-known SF work was the “The Diadem” series (1977). Clayton’s works sold over 1,250,000 copies.
Actor/Comedian
Modesto-born and Fred C. Beyer High School graduate Ginger Gonzaga. Comedian and actress. She appeared on Hulu’s daily pop culture show The Morning After (2011–12). She has been in the main cast of such series as Mixology, Wrecked, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law – Miniseries. As of 2023, she is a series co-lead in True Lies CBS, playing Helen Tasker.
Car Customizer/Painter
Gene Winfield is the legendary car customizer and fabricator and influenced most of the car customization of the 50s and 60s. He graduated from Modesto High School and was famous for cars like the Jade Idol, which had revolutionary paint jobs. His shop was located on Tully Rd. In the mid-’60s, his designs caught the film community’s attention, and his work appeared on TV and the big screen, including in the iconic 1982 film Blade Runner(he created 25 vehicles for the film.)
NFL
Daron Bland, born and raised in Modesto, California, attended Central Catholic High School. He played receiver on the football team and ran track and field. As a senior, he was named the Valley Oak League Defensive Player of the Year. Bland was signed to play for the Dallas Cowboys in 2022.
Writer/Director
Richard Leland Bare was born in Turlock, raised in Modesto, and graduated from Modesto High. Richard Bare became a director, directing nearly every episode of Green Acres. The author of the 1971 book “The Film Director” (MacMillan Company), which became the classic “nuts and bolts” text on that profession,
Bare advised George Lucas to become a director, saying, “If one kid from Modesto can make it in Hollywood, why can’t a second?”
Comedian
Marcella Arguello was raised in Modesto. She graduated from Johansen High School and attended Stanislaus State University. In 2009, she won the first Modesto Area Music Award for comedy. In 2019, she released her first of three comedy records. The Woke Bully. Her HBOMax Comedy Special Bitch Grow Up premiered in February 2023.
Olympian
Olympian Suzy Powell-Roos, a graduate of Thomas Downey High School. A discus thrower, she competed at the 1996, 2000, and 2008 Olympics and continues to be a motivational champion.
Casting Director
Robert J. Ulrich was born and raised in Modesto. He is a casting director and producer who attended Modesto Junior College, the University of the Pacific, and Stanislaus State. He returns to Modesto regularly to support local performing arts projects. His work with the Valley Talent Project leads to the stage, film, and music professions. He has worked as a casting director on over 100 projects and continues to develop casts today. He won an Emmy for Glee.
Of course, these two have made permanent marks on the world of film and entertainment. We should all be proud of those who found a creative childhood and early life here in Modesto, USA.
Writer/Director
George Lucas was born and raised in Modesto. He graduated from Downey High and attended MJC before attending USC. He immortalized his hometown in American Graffiti and fundamentally changed the landscape of Science Fiction with Star Wars. To say he revolutionized the film world is an understatement, but when asked, he lets people know he is a “storyteller.”
Actor/Musician
Jeremy Renner was born and raised in Modesto and graduated from Beyer High School and Modesto Junior College. 2 X Academy Award Nominated Actor(Hurt Locker/The Town) and musician. Maybe best known for being Hawkeye for Marvel and surviving a near-fatal snow plow accident. His Rennervation Foundation works with disadvantaged youth and organizations. He is currently starring in the Mayor of Kingstown.
Modesto should be proud of these accomplishments, but this is not a complete list. Others like Harve Presnell, Kenny Roberts, The Gallo family, Odessa Williams, Tim Olyphant, Lindsay Pearce, and others make Modesto proud. The Central Valley Film Association is working hard to find the next George Lucas, and the NY Film Fest award-winning Downey High School may deliver the next world-class animator. If you have an amazing person’s story to share, please email us at info@modestoview.com
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