TUCSON, Ariz. – The Wildcat Family is mourning the loss of one of its special members with the passing of Dave Lowell earlier this week. Lowell's legacy of compassion, exploration and generosity touched numerous lives throughout Arizona Athletics and the University of Arizona. A football letterwinner who graduated from Arizona in 1949, Lowell and his wife Edith, who is also an Arizona letterwinner, grew up in Southern Arizona before the Lowell name became synonymous with mining, engineering and science throughout the world.

The Lowells' philanthropic impact at the University of Arizona reached as many corners of campus as the number of lives it impacted. Dave and Edith joined the University of Arizona's Founders Society, endowed a Geosciences chair position in the College of Science and had the College of Engineering's Institute of Mineral Resources carry the Lowell name.  
 
Their powerful generosity included major gifts of $11 million for the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility and $2.5 million towards the Richard Jefferson Gymnasium as well as facilities for the gymnastics and swimming and diving programs. As part of this gift, Arizona Athletics was honored to recognize Dave's older brother Bill with the construction of the Bill Lowell Memorial. The tribute, adjacent to McKale Center, honors Dave's brother who died during the Battle of Iwo Jima. It also honors three of Dave's football teammates who also lost their lives during World War II.

Remembering Dave Lowell
"Wildcats everywhere are mourning the loss of Dave Lowell who was the definition of a Wildcat for life. He was a proud Southern Arizonan, who earned his degree from the University of Arizona and embodied the Wildcat Way throughout his life. Dave's legacy is felt throughout the campus of the University of Arizona as his everlasting generosity impacted the lives of countless young men and women. We are keeping his wife Edith and the entire Lowell family in our thoughts and prayers as we remember and honor this great Wildcat."
– Director of Athletics Dave Heeke

"The entire Arizona Football is saddened to hear of Dave Lowell's passing. Dave is an extraordinary individual whose accomplishments are rivaled only by his humility. He is a great example of what it means to be a Wildcat for Life, and we are so grateful to been able to know him and share in his passion for our university and community."
– Arizona Head Football Coach Kevin Sumlin

"On behalf of the Arizona men's basketball program, I want to send our condolences to the family of Dave Lowell, one of the most kind-hearted people I have ever met. Along with his wife Edith, Dave's generosity impacted our program in so many ways and we are reminded of that each day we walk by the memorial honoring his brother on our way to practice in Richard Jefferson Gymnasium, which he also helped make a reality. He was a visionary and a pioneer in his field, and we were fortunate to know him for so many years." - Arizona Head Men's Basketball Coach Sean Miller