Spotlight Upon Unsung Heroes

Randolph Titus, Educator, Father of Dogan High School

By Wilbur Thirkield Titus

Mrs. Loreta Phillips suggested that the spotlight be placed upon her high school
principal, Mr. Randolph Titus (1905 - 1975. Her reasons were that he had 
sterling character, made significant achievements in the humanities, and 
contributed much to the education and development of the citizens of Freestone 
County, Texas. He was a Christian, a devoted husband, father and a loyal 
citizen. He believed and taught obedience to constituted authority. He quietly 
touched the lives of many people, challenging young and old to chose the better 
life. Many of his students, and persons whom he counseled have found success in
ALL walks of life nationally, and to some extent, internationally. A few of 
them are U. S. Diplomat to Africa, Geussippina Bonner, Edward "Chief"

Johnson, educator and community leader; Tony L. Brackens, former Mayor of 
Fairfield, Texas; Sherry A. Brackens, former head nurse at Fairfield Hospital, 
Sherry A. Byrd, internationally renown artist, Dorothy Earnestine Titus Jordan,
LVN Nurse, St. Paul Hospital, Dallas, Texas; Adolphus R. Titus, pharmacist, and 
Frank Banks, Angel Oaks Retirement Home, Fairfield, Texas. There are many many
more in numerous fields of endeavor.

Mr. Titus, son of Henry Edward and Lula Averhart Titus, and grandson of 
trailblazer Edward "Ned" Titus, was born December 30, 1905 and grew up on his 
parent's farm in the Titus Farm/Brown's Creek Community, Freestone County, 
Texas, some ten or eleven miles northeast of Fairfield, Texas.

Young Randolph lost his father at an early age. This caused him to work his way
through school. He received his formal education at Titus Farm Grammar School,
Fairfield, Texas, Jackson High School, Corsicana, Texas, Wiley College, Marshall
, Texas, and Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas. He was an excellent 
student and finished high school and college with honors.

He became an educator in 1936 when he was hired by the Fairfield Independent 
School District as the principal of the Dogan High School. During his tenure, 
the school greatly improved, the faculty was increased, a new campus was 
acquired, the school was accredited. In its Alumni Souvenir Booklet, 19997, the
Dogan Alumni Association wrote concerning Mr. Titus ... " Mr. Titus was a 
tradition at Dogan. He served as principal from 1936 0 1967, and brought great 
prestige to our school. He was a man of many talents and responsibilities, each
of which he fulfilled in the most admirable manner. He was a gentleman, a 
family man, a scholar, and a friend."

The schools of the Fairfield Independent School District were integrated, Mr.
Titus was appointed the principal of the Fairfield Elementary School. After 
leaving there, he taught Math in San Antonio, Texas.

Mr. Titus united with Jones Chapel United Methodist Church, where he served
unselfishly as an officer and/or member of numerous divisions, commissions, and
committees of the Methodist Church on the local and district levels.

He married Miss Edna Bernice Jordan and established a home on South Fairway 
Street in Fairfield, where they raised two sons Adolphus Rene and Johnnie 
Harold Titus and a daughter., Edna Olivia Titus Newball.

Not only is Mr. Titus a hero of Mrs. Phillips, he is a hero to many whose lives
he has touched. He died on December 15, 1975. A good description of him is 
captured by the late Samuel Jackson Lynch as printed below.

Why God Made Teachers

When God created teachers,
He gave us special friends
to help us understand His world
and truly comprehend
the beauty and the wonder
of everything we see,
and become a better person
with every discovery.

When God created teachers,
He gave us special guides
to show us ways in which to grow
so we can all decide
how to live and how to do
what's right instead of wrong,
to lead us so we can lead
and learn how to be strong.

Why God created teachers,
in His wisdom and His Grace,
was to help us learn to make our world.