Tribune Notebook: MACCRAY AD is calling it a career

May 15—CLARA CITY — Jim Trulock is in the home stretch for wrapping up a long career in education, including 29 years at MACCRAY, and he's got mixed emotions.

"It's my choice, but I really am having a hard time dealing with it," said Trulock, MACCRAY's activities director. "I still love working with kids."

Trulock, 61, said his decision to retire came down to his health and spending more time with his family, including his daughter and her baby, whose husband/father died one-and-a-half years ago.

"I've been dealing with rheumatoid arthritis for 40 years," he said. "It takes a lot out of you. But it (retiring) is still not an easy choice."

Trulock has been AD the past nine years. His last day is June 30th. His replacement will be Derik Johnson. Johnson is the former AD at Renville County West, which is in a co-op with MACCRAY for sports like track and field. MACCRAY/RCW's girls' 4x-800-meter relay team is the defending state champion and currently has the

this spring with a time of 10 minutes, 1.62 seconds.

Johnson, who also has extensive coaching experience, takes over July 1. He has been working for Horace Mann investments and insurance the past two years.

"We are excited to welcome Derik Johnson to MACCRAY," said MACCRAY superintendent Adam Holm in a statement. "Derik's experience, energy and commitment to students will help continue the strong tradition established by Jim Trulock.

"We are also deeply grateful for Jim's outstanding leadership and service to our schools and community."

And while Trulock is quick to celebrate and honor all the outstanding accomplishments of his school's athletes, he's also proud of his work with MACCRAY's Alternative Learning Program, which helps struggling students earn their high school diplomas.

Trulock is originally from Tracy, where his father was a teacher. He attended Southwest Minnesota State University and Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, where he wrestled.

He started teaching in 1989 in Ellsworth and coached in Adrian for five years. He was hired by MACCRAY as a physical education, health and driver's education instructor, eventually being hired as AD.

He's most proud of the facilities that MACCRAY has and the large number of activities for a school with less than 200 students in the high school.

"We have a lot of options for a small school district," Trulock said. "Our facilities are top notch, from our new tennis courts to the turf field and track complex we have.

"And, overall, we have really good kids."

He said that there were 15 applicants for his position, including six with previous experience as athletic directors. He also said he leaves a well-organized and supportive Camden Conference.

"It's a really good organization with great people to work with," Trulock said. "We really work together as a conference very well."