XL Fortunate 500
Literary and Media Stars
People who wrote the book on the literary and media scenes
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Even if you don't watch KXAN's nightly newscasts, you've probably seen anchor Michelle Valles buzzing around town.
Amber Novak
FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Michelle Valles has become a local celebrity as co-anchor of KXAN's evening news. 'It is rewarding to be a good role model, especially with low-income kids,' says Valles, who started a $2,000 scholarship at her alma mater, Bel Air High School in El Paso.
The petite El Paso native with the blinding smile visits local schools, serves as mistress of ceremonies at charity events and volunteers with do-good groups all over Austin. Dear to her heart is the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which she has been involved with for seven years, hosting the Jerry Lewis Telethon in El Paso before taking over here.
"I wouldn't want to spend my Labor Day weekend doing anything else," says Valles, 30.
Valles also works with the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and the Aguila Awards, which honor Hispanics in Texas. She's especially proud of a $2,000 scholarship she started for students at her alma mater, Bel Air High School in El Paso.
"I'm not looking for the highest GPA, and they don't have to be Hispanic," Valles says. "The only requirement is that they leave town for college. I want them to step outside their comfort zone."
Co-anchoring the news with Robert Hadlock gives Valles a degree of celebrity.
"It's a very strange power," she says. "You have to be careful and give the right message. But it is rewarding to be a good role model, especially with low-income kids. I tell them their disadvantages are advantages. When you've been given everything, you don't have that hunger for things to be better."
Valles comes from humble origins, too. Her father was a teacher who became an abusive alcoholic and left the family when Michelle was 9. Her mother went to work as a janitor.
Valles came to the University of Texas on a one-way plane ticket and worked at the Jalisco Bar to support herself. After graduating, she returned to El Paso and advanced from part-time reporter to weeknight anchor at the NBC station affiliate.
As for the future, Valles says she'd be "perfect on 'The View,' " but has no plans to leave Austin. She isn't longing for marriage and a family — and she feels guilty about that.
"I just don't know, but if I don't do those things, I better do something," she says. "So I really try to use my position to influence kids in a positive way."
Lidia Agraz
Time-Warner Cable
John Aielli
KUT
Sammy Allred
KVET
Sarah Bird
'The Flamenco Academy', Texas Monthly
Olga Campos and Kevin Benz
KVUE, News 8 Austin, Austin Junior League, March of Dimes, Girl Scouts
Fred Cantú
KEYE
Gary Cartwright
Texas Monthly
Elizabeth Christian and Bruce Todd
Elizabeth Christian Associates, public affairs consultant
Bob Cole
KVET
Mary Anne Connolly
Austin Woman, Conspirare
Kevin Connor
Music & Entertainment Television
Monica Davis
The Davis Group, International Association of Broadcast Monitors
Zarghun and Eddaicsa (Eddy) Dean
Tribeza, Austin magazine
Jody Denberg
KGSR
Dale Dudley
KLBJ
Betty Sue Flowers
LBJ Library and Museum
Bob Fonseca
KLBJ
Robert Hadlock
KXAN, CASA, Easter Seals
Michael Hall
Texas Monthly
Stephen Harrigan
'Challenger Park,' Texas Monthly
Mary Herman
Texas Book Festival
Donna and Steve Hicks
Stockton Hicks Laffey, Capstar Partners
Jim Hornfischer
Hornfischer Literary Management
Molly Ivins
Creators Syndicate
Brette Lea
UT Performing Arts Center
David Lindsey
'The Face of the Assassin'
Jill McGuckin
McGuckin Entertainment PR
Judy Maggio
KEYE-TV, Blue Santa, Children's Hospital of Austin
Libby and Bruce Malone
Professional Management Group, Austin Parks Foundation
Lance Avery Morgan
Brilliant
Jeff Nightbyrd
Acclaim Talent, Armadillo Podcasts
Joe Nick Patoski
KGSR-FM
Steven Phenix
Phenix Rising, Armadillo Podcasts
Cactus Pryor
KLBJ
Wayne Slater
Dallas Morning News
Jim Spencer
KXAN, Jerry Lewis Telethon (MDA), Helping Hand Home for children, ARC of the Capitol Area
Tom Spencer
KLRU
Tom Staley
UT Ransom Center
Bart Stephens
West Austin News
Bruce Sterling
'Visionary in Residence'
Bill Stotesbery
KLRU, Hart InterCivic
Maury Sullivan
KLRU
Kerry Tate
TateAustin
Sally and Bill Wittliff
Southwestern Writers Collection and Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern and Mexican Photography at Texas State University The New Yorker, CAST
