My name is Jerry Trubman and I’m the owner and founder of The Protocol Strength & Conditioning. The gym where Cal trained for a little over 12 years.
I met Cal on October 15, 2013 at the Vail Community Wellness Fair, which the Vail School District was sponsoring. I had signed up for a table to help promote our business. Cal was wandering around the event, and while I didn’t know him personally at the time, I knew of him. I knew what he had accomplished within VUSD… its rise from a single K-8 school with 400-500 students in 1988 to a nationally acclaimed district with more than 22 schools and 14,000 students under his leadership. It was the stuff of legends.
I remember hearing the whispers as he walked around the room: “That’s Cal Baker over there.”
I don’t remember who I was standing next to, but I remember exactly what I said:
“I’m going to go talk to him.”
The reply came quickly.
“That’s Cal Baker… you can’t just go up and talk to him!”
“Why not?” I asked.
No good answer was given… so I did.
I introduced myself, and his response will come as no surprise to anyone who knew him:
“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Jerry. Tell me about your business.”
So, I did.
The details of that conversation are a bit fuzzy now, but one thing stands out. Despite his extensive fitness résumé, especially as a runner (multiple Boston Marathons, multiple rim-to-rim Grand Canyon trips, etc. etc.), he explained that he wasn’t able to run at the time. When I asked why, he told me he had torn a hamstring trying to show up one of his adult sons (who was something of a physical specimen) in a spur-of-the-moment foot race.
Cal was in his early 60s when he did this.
I remember thinking, Yeah… this guy is definitely our people.
Most old-school runners want nothing to do with a meathead strength coach like me. I’m fairly certain that if he hadn’t torn that hamstring, and therefore hadn’t been sidelined from running, that conversation might have been our last. Instead, he was intrigued by my confidence that I could help him rehab the injury, and he decided to give me a shot.
Fast forward a few months: He did rehab the injury, He did start running again, and he even liked it so much that he continued with us. Over the years, he continued to become stronger and more well-rounded as an athlete.
The very best part was that, over the next decade plus, I had the honor of being mentored by Cal. He helped me become a better public speaker, a better business owner, and even a better husband. He was never too busy to take my call when I was facing something challenging that I knew he could help me navigate. We had an inside joke every year on his gym anniversary where I told him I should be paying him instead of the other way around.
In 2021, we presented Cal with our version of a Lifetime Achievement Award (pictured), and he became just the third person in our program’s history to be inducted into The Protocol Hall of Fame. Cal was one of the greatest examples I’ve ever known of someone who truly walked the talk.
We have something at the gym called The Protocol Scholarship Fund. It exists to support extraordinary young athletes who can benefit from our program but lack the financial means to do so. In loving memory of all Cal did for the education of our youth, we will be renaming it The Cal Baker Scholarship Fund.
Cal, I know you’re smiling down on us. I’m happy that the years of discomfort are finally over and that you’re now with our Lord and Savior. I will cherish the time I had with you, both inside and outside the gym. I’m forever grateful for your mentorship and your wise counsel. I will miss our fun conversations over great bourbon just as much as our serious conversations over great coffee.
A wise mentor once told me that the best thing to have is gratitude, and sometimes the best thing to say is simply, thank you.
Cal, thank you. I’m grateful and honored to call you a friend.
And I’m really glad you tore that hamstring.
