A Titanium Knee Does Not Stop Mr. Titus

You might only view Mr. Titus as the marine biology, AP biology, and AP environmental science teacher at Galloway, but really he is no ordinary man. He is also a man of nature. He not only traveled to over 20 national parks as a child but has also continued pursuing his passion for the outdoors by hiking nearly every day and going on birding trips.

Hiking became a passion of Mr. Titus’s after years of hiking and backpacking. In high school, Mr. Titus did track and cross country and he continued to run for decades. These sports “got [him] in an exercise mode.” Over the years, Mr. Titus went on such backpacking trips as the Grand Canyon with a fellow science teacher friend and to the Rockies with his sister. After years of running and backpacking, Mr. Titus started to walk awkwardly and constantly be in pain. He eventually had surgery and got a titanium knee which has helped him tremendously. Now, you can find Mr. Titus on his daily walks around Chastain with his hiking sticks between classes or before school.

Mr. Titus explained that hiking “chills [him] for the day in terms of emotional stability.” It is his form of meditation. He even sometimes gets to school over an hour early to begin his day with a walk. When Mr. Titus hikes, he sometimes listens to music: His favorites are Led Zeppelin, David Garrett, and Pat Metheny. 

I have never met someone who loves nature as much as Mr. Titus. He hikes in the nice warm weather as well as the freezing cold. He admires observing plants, animals, and the sounds of nature surrounding him. His hiking sticks are not only a defining feature, they are evidence of his passion for the outdoors and exploring the world around him.