Noah Galloway, Army vet, double amputee, makes debut on 'Dancing with the Stars'

From Alabama.com:

Noah Galloway will be the first to tell you: He doesn't consider himself a celebrity, a household name or a public figure of national renown.

What, then, is Galloway doing on "Dancing with the Stars," competing with partner Sharna Burgess against 11 other teams?

The Alabama native, 33, might not have the name recognition of powerhouse singer Patti LaBelle or the "Three's Company" credits of Suzanne Somers. He's not a paparazzi magnet like Rumer Willis. And "Hunger Games" fans? Well, we already know their votes are going to Primrose Everdeen, a.k.a. Willow Shields.

But in a very real way, Galloway's accomplishments are significant. He's an Army veteran and double amputee who found the strength to overcome severe injuries. In December 2005, Galloway lost part of two left limbs during Operation Iraqi Freedom, after driving a Humvee into a trip wire that ignited a hidden bomb.

The road to recovery certainly wasn't easy. Yet with grit and gumption on his side, Galloway has become a hardcore athlete, a personal trainer, a motivational speaker and a cover guy for Men's Health magazine. He's focused, ripped and ready to roar.

Tonight, as "Dancing with the Stars" launches its 10th anniversary season, most viewers would call Galloway a stealth contender or a fairly unknown quantity. But over the next few weeks, we're betting that Galloway's fame grows by leaps and bounds -- well, make that cha-cha steps and paso doble moves -- as he appears on the ABC reality series.

Until then, here are few more things you might want to know about him.

State of mind: Galloway's Alabama roots run deep. He was born in Birmingham, and is the son of Andy and Bebe Galloway of Ashville. He makes his home in Alabaster, about 25 miles south of Birmingham. 

Family man: Galloway, a divorced dad, is devoted to his three children: sons Colston and Jack, and daughter Rian Elizabeth. Because he wants to stay close to his kids during his run on reality TV, Galloway has scheduled rehearsals at a Birmingham-area dance studio.

Sorry, ladies!: Take a look at his Instagram page and you'll see several shots of Galloway with his girlfriend, Jamie Boyd. She's a former DJ at country station WZZK-FM, a coach at Iron Tribe Fitness and a Specialist in the Army Reserves.

On the run: Galloway challenges himself with runs and races, including Tough Mudder, Spartan events and Crossfit competitions. He also participates in traditional 5K-10K races and marathons.

Fashion statement: Because of his Scottish heritage -- and yes, to make things tougher -- Galloway has been known to wear a kilt when he competes in athletic events. "The kilt that I use becomes really heavy in the obstacle course races because it absorbs all the mud and water," he told AL.com in 2013.
At the podium: Galloway shares his personal story with schoolchildren, veterans groups and other organizations. His favorite talking points: fitness, fatherhood, leadership and overcoming adversity.

Giving back: Galloway's motto is #NoExcusesNoah. His nonprofit organization, the No Excuses Charitable Fund, aims to reduce childhood obesity and empower injured veterans through physical rehab activities. Galloway's fund supports the YMCA of Alabaster, Ala., and Operation Enduring Warrior.

On the newsstands: Galloway turned heads with his cover story in the November 2014 issue of Men's Heath. He was named the "Ultimate Men's Health Guy," besting about 1,300 applicants and two other finalists. Requirements for the win? To be "physically fit, confident, stylish, career-driven and a pillar of his community," according to the magazine.

Making it work: In tandem with the Men's Heath cover, Galloway made a guest appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in October 2014. He raised about $14,000 for his charity that day, earning $4,000 by doing 20 pushups in 20 seconds. DeGeneres tossed in another check for $10,000 from corporate sponsor Shutterfly.

Dynamic duo: Galloway is featured in a children's book, "Bo Meets a Hero," by Sharman Martin and Karim Shamsi-Basha. It's the second volume in a series about a three-legged dog who survives an accident, finds a new owner and earns love. In the book, "Bo and Noah team up to teach others about strength, perseverance, and never giving up," Martin says.

Armed for success: Galloway is extremely comfortable with his prosthetic leg, but he'll be wearing a new prosthetic arm for "Dancing with the Stars." It's being designed by Birmingham's BioTech Limb and Brace and geared to his needs on the dance floor.

Dos and don'ts: Galloway's strength and agility are huge assets to #TeamShalloway (recently shortened to #TeamShway), said partner Sharna Burgess. However, he'll be staying away from two specific dances on the show: the jive and quickstep. Repeating the syncopated, bouncing movements on a prosthetic leg would be too painful for Galloway in the long run, Burgess said.