Dr. Myer L. Titus, 81, of Colorado Springs died Thursday, January 24 at Memorial Central Hospital. The Memorial Service will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church located at 3625 Marion Drive Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909.
Dr. Myer Titus was born December 23, 1931 in Grenada, Mississippi to Reverend Myer L. Titus, Sr., the former pastor of the Warren Street Methodist Church and Forest Grove Missionary Baptist Church, and Anna Mae (Harbin) Titus. He was one of two children. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Myer Greg Titus, his sister, Miriam Ruth Harvey, two nephews, Thomas and Ronald Bright and a great nephew, Dwight Sweate. Dr. Titus was united in marriage to Constance Joyce King in 1953 at Trinity A.M.E. Church in Kansas City, Kansas. To this union they had two children, Connie Joy and Myer Greg Titus.
Dr. Titus graduated from Sumner High School in Kansas City, Kansas and from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology. He earned his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a Doctorate of Education Degree in Vocational Education and Higher Education Administration from the University of Missouri in Columbia. Dr. Titus also received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Missouri.
Dr. Titus served in the U.S. Army in the Counter Intelligence Corps as a special agent during the Korean War. He worked at Bendix Corporation, Penn Valley Community College (Kansas City) and he was the first black administrator at Longview Community College in Missouri. Dr. Titus also worked at Pikes Peak Community College as the Vice-President for Instruction and the Community College of Denver as President.
Dr. Titus served as President of his Alma Mater, Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas from 1988 through 1998. He led the charge in constructing new buildings during his ten years at the helm. It was his administration that constructed the Myer Titus Academic Center, the Multiplex Center which includes the Oppenheimer Business Center and the Crawford Mims Gymnasium. He also conceptualized and raised funding to erect the wrought iron and brick fence that surrounds the campus. Upon his retirement from Philander Smith College, Dr. Titus and his wife, Connie, returned to Colorado Springs.
Dr. Titus held active membership in the Alphi Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for sixty years. During his career, he was a member of numerous professional and civic organizations. His hobbies included stained glass, photography and technology, and giving back to the community. Dr. Titus made a positive impact and touched the lives of numerous students, colleagues, community members and friends. He was a former member of Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church and member of People’s United Methodist Church at the time of his passing.
He is survived by his wife, Constance Joyce King Titus; one daughter, Connie Joy Titus (Erdal) Bengogullari (Colorado Springs); two granddaughters, Conti Joi Moore (Orlando, FL) and Jeyda Bengogullari; and a nephew, brothers and sisters in-laws, nieces, cousins and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a scholarship fund named after Dr. Titus at Philander Smith College.
Donations by Check:
Make check payable to PSC-Titus Memorial and mail it to:
Philander Smith College
Institutional Advancement
900 Daisy Bates Dr.
Little Rock, AR 72202
Online Donations – use the following link:
https://www.philander.edu/alumni-giving/donations/default.aspx
Under “Giving Opportunities” click on “other” and type in “Titus Memorial”
Complete the remainder of the information, then click “Preview” and “Send Donation”