In memory of Noah James Weber.
We built Tri-City Barbell Club here in Kennewick in 2011, after Tim coached Noah for a few months. He inspired us to start TCBC. We never wanted to put any awkward pressure on him so we never told him that. I (Amanda) mentioned this at his service this past year but we’d like everyone to know what an incredibly influential person he was to us and our early members.
The Origin of TCBC
In 2010, Tim coached a handful of kids at a local Kennewick gym after finishing his Master’s degree. This was only meant to be summer income before taking a college job anywhere in the US. An offer in the state of Maine was on the table. As an experienced strength coach, Tim spent his summer teaching these kids how to properly perform basic barbell movements, follow a program, and create a training log. It was so different from their PE classes, sports practices, or conditioning camps, and they loved it.
One kid in particular displayed tremendous strength — and personality. At 12 years old and 100 pounds, he was squatting 185, but high. Tim encouraged him to go down to 95 pounds and squat to proper depth. He explained that he would be able to work his way back up and become stronger, surpassing that 185. Noah’s response to Tim was a very calm and sincere, “Fuck off.”
Tim smiled. He’s always believed that a good coach earns respect through actions and experience. Tim knew that if he could gain Noah’s trust, Noah would be as strong physically as he was mentally. Later that night, Tim came home and told me about the 12 year old boy with the chip on his shoulder. We laughed. We three were cut from the same cloth and we recognized it right away.
The summer was ending and Noah’s future was unknown. He was a very proud son and middle sibling, so much so that he spoke about their accomplishments more than his own. We knew that Noah would do well in school and life, but being on the smaller side, he would struggle in baseball (the sport he loved) without a proper strength training program. We also wanted to foster his new desire to claim weightlifting as his own “thing”.
In one naive and heart-driven conversation, we decided to stay put and open our own gym with one goal — provide an encouraging, educational, supportive place for people like Noah to train. A place where we could positively impact people’s lives. The business plan was completely based on hopes, dreams, and eating a lot of rice for many years.
September 2011, we opened TCBC with 4 members. Noah Weber, Health Lawrence and his brother Luke, and Melanie Oord. Noah was thrilled to continue training for baseball. Heath was enjoying lifting weights with a coach who wasn’t a total asshole. Luke was lifting to heal a broken arm. Melanie was preparing for college softball. We were a rag tag group in 500 sq feet of converted office space, and totally happy.
Noah came in early, did homework between sets, and stayed late just to talk about weights, school work, his family, and career goals. In a few years, Noah was perfectly squatting 315 for reps and sets to proper depth— something very few adult men can brag about, and Noah worked incredibly hard to get his bodyweight up to 150. If there was a number he wanted on that bar, he pushed for it with a complete poker face. He always wanted more and he was never in competition with anyone else. Even in competition! From the youngest age, it was clear that he was determined to take up space and forge a place for himself in the world.
Noah consistently trained with us, as a friend, for the next 7 years. There were years of laughs and hard lessons. Years of Powerlifting medals, trophies, and state and American records. The compliments Noah and Tim received from the “old timers” in the warmup rooms and from judges on the platform were everything. We mentally banked each one. Noah gained accolades and respect. He helped younger kids in our gym, encouraged his peers, and inspired all- including adults. After he passed, another member sent us this-
… “I never shared this with him or u guys but he was a big motivation to get me into the gym. I was a fairly unmotivated person and seeing Noah crush the numbers that I would hit kept me going.”
We blinked and Noah was 20, stopping in periodically after working manual labor just to say hello. His last visit was February 2023. He passed shortly after, and that’s been hard to reason with. Anyone who joins TCBC will see his first weightlifting belt and shoes encased in the box Tim’s dad hand-built. It’s a memorial to Noah, but also a reminder to trust ourselves and invest in people who need and deserve our time. To surround ourselves with those who have “Noah traits”.
Noah’s need for training inspired us to become business owners. The overall cool ass feeling to watch a kid grow up into an awesome adult, inspired us to become parents.
We continue following the “business model” TCBC was founded on- keeping a supportive environment for those who need it, want it, and are willing to earn it.
RIP, Noah. We are forever grateful to have met you. Thank you for being the first ever “TCBC influencer”.
