This love story began in 1979.
I was born in Johnson City — shortly after my parents relocated to the area from the eastern shore of Maryland. Back then, the city was actually more of a town. The population was less than 40,000. Due to a flood risk, downtown was anything but bustling back then.
But the small town feel didn’t bother me at all because I was enamored with Davy Crockett and his connection to the area. I stayed busy looking for arrowheads on hikes and hiding amongst the rhododendron and laurel trees in my camouflage pants. The hills and mountains in this Appalachian Highlands literally became my playground.
Little did I realize how inspirational and foundational my time in the Smokies, Cherokee National Forest, Blue Ridge Mountains, and the eastern Tennessee hills would be in shaping who I am today.
My family moved from Johnson City to Claymont, Delaware before my ninth birthday — far from the mountains of Tennessee. Our stay was brief as we moved to Pittsburgh and then onto Fairmont, West Virginia. That's where I finished middle school, high school, and college — starting at West Virginia Wesleyan College and finishing at West Virginia University.
During high school I started running. I ran competitively through my freshman year at West Virginia Wesleyan College. I soon found I loved running trails through the West Virginia woods and mountains. After moving back to Johnson City in 2016, I realized my love for being in the mountains actually began as a child in Tennessee. I hiked with my parents in the very same area I now call home. I enjoy living here as much as I did as a child.
I now have the wonderful privilege of sharing my love with the eastern Tennessee mountains with my six kids — taking them on many of the same hikes I enjoyed as a young boy.
As a Johnson City Tennessee realtor, hardly a day goes by when I don't have the opportunity to share my love and knowledge of the Johnson City and Tri-Cities area with friends thinking about relocating to the area.
If you want one of the most intimate, vicarious tours of Johnson City, then please subscribe to my blog and YouTube channel.
I’ll take you along with me on hikes, runs, mountain biking and other adventures so you can experience the Appalachian Highlands as if you were right by my side.
