NORA GARZA: Movie celebrates life of Texas 4-H donor

Hollywood is always looking for a script based on real people who triumph over adversity. These are the movies that inspire and motivate and are referred to as “feel good” movies. Blind Side and Glory Road come to mind.

Hollywood couldn’t have asked for a better subject than Texas’ own Richard “Dick” Wallrath when creating a film to celebrate someone’s life.

Deep in the Heart tells Wallrath’s amazing story. After hitting rock bottom and losing his job and family, Wallrath found faith. With his newfound inner strength and conviction, he reconnected with his children and founded a successful window company, becoming a multimillionaire.

That in itself would have been enough for a satisfying movie, much in the spirit of It’s a Wonderful Life, but there’s more to Wallrath’s story. Wallrath has donated millions toward scholarships for youths in Texas 4-H and Future Farmers of America.

Wallrath, who lives on his East Texas ranch in Centerville, has donated nearly $3 million to Texas 4-H since 2006.

You can see his incredible life journey when Deep in the Heart opens Feb. 17 in all Texas Cinemark Theaters. The movie was filmed on location outside Austin with actors Jon Gries (Napoleon Dynamite, Taken, September Dawn), Val Kilmer (Top Gun, Batman Forever), D.B. Sweeney (Hear No Evil, Fire in the Sky) and Elaine Hendrix (Superstar, The Parent Trap).

Gries, perhaps best known as Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite, plays the role of Wallrath, while Kilmer portrays the inspirational character, known as the “Bearded Man.”

Characteristic of Wallrath’s generosity, a portion of all ticket sales will go to Texas 4-H and Texas FFA. Undoubtedly, Wallrath’s greatest legacy will be his support and investment in the lives of young Texans.

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Nora N. Garza is a County Extension Agent with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Hidalgo County. She can be reached at n-garza@tamu.edu.