Witness Post: Leno Pugh

Witness Post: Leno Pugh

Leno Pugh is certified as a Personal Trainer by the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) and he is a gift to all of us who know him. During the Vovid-19 Pandemic, one of his primary corporate clients closed its campus to on-site workers. So Leno made house calls to his former clients. We were among them. Leno’s guidance gave us a much needed break from our sedentary habits. We had been cooped-up and packing on the Covid-calories. Since March of 2020, Leno has been a consistent health and exercise partner. He has also personally nursed me through lots of common ailments (sciatic nerve damage, rotator cuff problems, hip flexor issues, lower back pain, etc.) that accompany life-long athletes.

As Leno says, “I am passionate about helping others to realize the tremendous benefits of flexibility and movement in their regular exercise and workouts.” He has devoted clients at the West Hills and Mountain Park Racket and Fitness Clubs. These believers sport BODY BY LENO t-shirts with pride.

We first met Leno Pugh at an exercise room connected with River’s Edge hotel in Portland. The hotel was steps away from our house up the hill from the Willamette River. Leno was our go-to athletic guru for workouts at least twice a week for about two years. When we moved from the John’s Landing neighborhood, we lost track of Leno and his hotel-centric weight training program.

Tracy ran into Leno at Fred Meyer’s one day in the spring of 2020 and asked if he were still working with private clients. He said, “Yes, I am working with my former clients and some new ones in their basements and garages.” We signed up to harden our flabby abs and to feel better.

Leno Pugh made house calls during the Pandemic

Kimbrough at Central High and St. Cloud State Univ.

Leno Pugh’s childhood friend and mentor was John Kimbrough, who had been a multisport athlete at Central High in Mobile, Alabama. Kimbrough was a few years older than Leno and went on to be a genuine star at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.[1] After his college athletic success, John tried out for some professional football teams. Kimbrough was durable and played for many seasons in the National Football League. In his career he played for the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, and New England Patriots. He is now a musician, using his vocal music interests to share his many talents with audiences across the country.

Leno said he was proud to follow in John Kimbrough’s scholar-athlete footsteps. “I applied for and earned a scholarship to play football and run track for the Huskies of St. Cloud,” just like his mentor. “It was a great decision for me, even though St. Cloud was 1,300 miles from home.”

John Kimbrough, football & track at St. Cloud State, MN

Mobile, AL and Music

Leno grew up in a large extended family in Mobile, Alabama. He is the oldest son and was a star athlete in his own right at Central High School. Leno and his six brothers and sisters lived with their parents upstairs from a music venue, where jazz bands and solo artists played every night. The rhythm and blues from every era are in his bones. “It didn’t bother me or keep us awake, it was part of the vibe of our upbringing.”

When we play music from a Pandora app, during our morning workouts, Leno often correctly guesses the artist by name and the year of the hit, which is astonishing to me. He also curates and collects the ones he likes by saying, “I need that one for my clients’ work out on Mondays. Let me write that down!” As usual he places others first.

Leno On The Loop

Leno is quick to help train young athletes, working at seasonal basketball and football camps in Portland, OR and Mobile, AL returning to his high school across the country, whenever a fellow coach reaches out for help. He is generous and often “gives back” to the community like that.

Leno works out Tracy, and helps with stretches in our garage

The hand-made sign, “Leno on the Loop,” that we speedily crafted, announces that Leno Pugh is open for business. He is willing to support all those who want a personalized workout. And the marketing message is out to all, whether you drive on the Fairmount Loop of not. If you live in the Portland metro area you can start your workout with a pro, who will meet you at Dunaway Park or at your residence.

Also worth noting — Leno is a master of all things healthy: he recommends the best natural elixirs from Portland Juice Co., CBD oil rubs for sore muscles, cryotherapy treatments at Restore, and other regular habits for feeling younger and rejuvenated. We appreciate his whole-body-health perspective so much. His recommendations and influence have changed our lives for the better.

Thank you, Leno!