The DS Murphy Newsletter

By Kate Merrihew, Director of Education and Marketing

This month’s spotlight appraiser can likely be found on a mountain trail doing something athletic and insane (probably why he’s never read the Team Spotlight).  Born in Norfolk, Virginia on Easter Sunday – the oldest of 4 boys – Ron Witcher has built a life of outdoor activity, real estate and living every day to the fullest.

Ron grew up in Houston, Texas, lakeside, where he frequently water-skiied, rode BMX bikes and was into motorcycles (“because that’s what you do in Texas”). The BMX racing would be foreshadowing for his later years. Up to 9^th grade he played baseball, football, soccer, tennis and swam on the swim team.  He also honed a love of golf.  He would continue that love for golf through high school in the Philadelphia area where he also learned to ski and began racing in his junior year.  His love for golf continued and he thought he might play for his college team but the world had other plans.

Ron attended Virginia Tech (*the author will not hold that against him) and got a degree in marketing.  He found himself more interested in the college experience and extracurricular activities than continuing competitive golf.  He had roles in Student Government and Business Council. Out of college, Ron had a job in pharmaceuticals and around 2005 he left that position for a new venture with Adventure Sports Magazine.  This is when he began to dive into the outdoor world.  Around age 30, he quit golf and started to focus on adventure racing, running and biking.

Some may be wondering, “what is adventure racing?” Adventure racing is like a triathlon but instead of swim, bike, run, it is kayak, rock-climb, run (or similar).  They can last from 4 hours to 7 days.  Ron commented that the biggest one he attempted was a 3-day mountain-biking race in Costa Rica.  He did a solo 40-hr race in Florida and it was the first time he had kayaked at night.  He turned on his headlamp to assist and “saw alligator eyes for days.” Ron remarked that it “definitely kept him awake.”  During his adventure race period he also learned that he was scared of heights.  This fact was discovered while partner climbing 300ft up in a lightning storm.  He got a reminder in Moab, Utah while rappelling down a 400ft cliff.

Despite a fear of heights, Ron had always wanted to live in the mountains.  Seven years ago, he and his partner, Reiko, made this a reality by moving to Dahlonega, GA.  He currently resides there with Reiko and their cat, Tom and dog, Maple. It is important to note that Tom and Maple go on walks together, Maple on leash and Tom walking right beside. 

Ron met Scott Murphy at a Lunch and Learn for Berkshire Hathaway in Dunwoody where he was an agent.  “Scott is huge in the real estate world.  I don’t think everyone at the company knows that,” Ron mentioned.  He reached out to him to discuss becoming an appraiser almost 5 years ago and has worked with D.S. Murphy ever since.  He first trained with Hugh Carver and then Devon Crowel before going off on his own to conquer the Northwest territory. 

I asked Ron Witcher the following questions…

Q: What made you want to be an appraiser?

A: I needed health insurance.  I was looking for something more regular than the real estate income and I didn’t want to waste my real estate knowledge – I had been an agent for 8 years.  I have a cousin who owns a firm in Wilmington, NC so I was kind of familiar.  Scott was THE person to call if you’re an agent. 

Q: What would you like to do when you are no longer appraising?

A: I want to invent silent Velcro. Seriously I am going to travel and mountain bike and fly fish.  Reiko says I like woodworking, but I’ve never done it a day in my life.

Q: What the weirdest thing you have come across when inspecting/appraising?

A: A glass water closet.  All the walls of this interior toilet closet were glass so what was the point? 

Q: Something no one knows about you?

A: I was in the Texas all-state choir in middle school.  I sang soprano. I was bad at band so I switched to choir.  I probably liked it because you don’t have to practice singing but you did have to practice band.  I don’t know if I was any good at singing but I had a high-pitched voice my choir instructor loved.  We have an album – it’s vinyl.  Also, I’ve been learning to play the banjo.

Q: What words of wisdom can you share with the team?

A: You can do more than you think you can do.  Regarding endurance stuff, I actually never thought I’d be able to do any of it and I’m constantly surprised at what I can do.  I have never run as far as I can. I have never ridden as far as I can.  It is all mental.

**The reader may have detected a hint of sarcasm from the respondent.  This quote has been included to contribute to the tone of the interview and give the reader a tad more insight into the mind of Ron Witcher.  This comment was made to add color to the story when he began to feel that his life may not be “interesting enough” for the Team Spotlight.

“So I robbed a bank about a week ago, Reiko and I like to do that for fun. You may have noticed that I have a nub of a finger.  I slammed my finger in a safe 3 burglaries ago – right hand because they open right to left and my right hand was on the sill, yeah that makes sense.”