January 8, 2002

RELEASE IMMEDIATELY

CONTACT:
Angela Jones, Public Information Officer
City of Richmond
City Manager’s Office
(510) 621-1230

OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY 
INCLUDES LOCAL RICHMOND FLARE 

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH, FIREFIGHTER AND WIFE CHOSEN FOR HISTORIC JOURNEY

Richmond Fire Engineer Sal Bonilla was surprised and honored to find out that his wife, Treena, nominated him to be a member of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay. "He is a brother and friend to all he works with," wrote Treena Bonilla. "His greatest joy is in helping others, and I am proud to be his wife." Bonilla was so touched that he nominated his wife, and now both of them will get a chance to carry the Olympic Torch.

Bonilla has been with the Richmond Fire Department since 1983 when he began as a fire fighter. He is also a member of the California Incident Management Team #3, which was assigned to the Pentagon after the September 11th terrorist attack as part of the Urban Search And Rescue unit. Bonilla says he will dedicate his portion of the relay in memory of the New York Fire Fighters who were killed in the attack. Bonilla will run the torch through Richmond on Saturday, January 19, 2002. His wife has been assigned to the relay team that will carry the torch through Oakland.

Richmond High School Men's Basketball Coach Ken Carter has also been chosen to participate in the Torch Relay. Carter will bring the Torch into the Richmond Civic Center Plaza and place it in the stand for a brief ceremony with local elected dignitaries. Coach Carter gained national recognition in 1999 when he suspended his entire squad from games and practice because of poor academic performance, amid a storm of controversy, and despite a phenomenal 13-0 record. The players were not allowed to return to the court until their grades improve with the help of tutors and pep talks from teammates. "People wanted a State Championship," says Carter. "But my goal was to get these boys into college, where they could learn to become leaders and come back to this community as productive citizens." Carter has dedicated his life to helping students succeed by requiring players to sign a strict academic contract, and agree to stay off the streets and maintain a 2.3 grade point average. Carter also takes the students on field trips to give them exposure to the business world. He says his goal is to see every graduating senior go directly to a four-year college or university. Carter has also created his own website, www.coachcarter.com.

As part of the Olympic Torch Relay event, the City of Richmond will hold a parade beginning at 8:30 a.m. at 39th Street and Cutting Boulevard, making its way to the Civic Center. Festivities at the Civic Center begin at 9 a.m. until the Olympic Torch Relay arrives at 11:00 a.m. Commemorative T-Shirts are now on sale for $20 at the City Manager’s Office. For more information, call (510) 621-1230.