Tom Ton: World's Heaviest Man and Family
Date1920's
MediumCardboard.
Dimensions3 5/8 x 5 1/2 in. (9.1 x 14 cm)
ClassificationsDocumentary Artifact
Catalog number2007.27.1
DescriptionThis sepia photo shows Tom, a woman, two boys and a baby in a stroller (wicker)."Tom Ton: World's Heaviest Man"
"Weight 7__"
"and family"
"World's Museum 510 So. Main St. Los Angeles"
These are probably his three children and wife.
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The following information was provided in November 2025 by Kevin Cowden (a descendant of Teodulo Valenzuela):
My name is Kevin Cowden and I was doing some research on my great grandfather. I came across the picture of the postcard that you have with him and his family [No. 2007.27.1].
My great grandfather is Teodulo Valenzuela and my grandfather is the baby next to him, Pedro (Pete) Valenzuela. He [Pete] went on to join the Navy after playing center for the Arizona State Football Team. Later in life he became the equipment manager and trainer for the San Diego Chargers in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Later, he was an equipment manager for UNLV and actually designed the uniforms the basketball team wore when they won the national title in 1990. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 75 in Torrance, California where he raised my mother and his family.
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Based on the additional information provided by Mr. Cowden, and other sources (biographical information at Tempe History Museum, birth certificates, and Find-a-Grave website), the family members in this photo include (from left to right):
Edward F. (Valenzuela) Vall - eldest son
Leonides "Leona" (Estrada) Valenzuela Taylor - wife/mother
Pedro "Pete" Valenzuela - youngest son (baby in stroller)
Teodulo A. Valenzuela, Sr. - husband/father
Teodulo "Theodore/Ted" John (Valenzuela) Vall, Jr. - middle son
Status
Not on view
c. 1980
November 1988
c. 1900
c. 1956