Thousands of people gathered in India’s Dharamshala on Sunday to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama – a key milestone in the life of the spiritual leader and Nobel Peace laureate known for his message of compassion and his quest for greater freedoms for Tibet under Beijing’s rule.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, performs prayers during a grant function to celebrate his upcoming 90th birthday at Tsuglagkhang, the Dalai Lama Temple on July 05, 2025 in Dharamsala,

The story is nearly 50 years old, but it’s still one that legendary Falconer athlete Joe Mistretta remembers fondly. It was August 1976 and the Golden Falcons’ football team was preparing for what turned out to be another undefeated season when head coach Bill Race received a phone call from another area high school coach