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[Pages S3000-S3001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO KEANON LOWE
Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, today I want to recognize and honor
Parkrose High School coach and security guard Keanon Lowe for his
heroism during the school day on May 17, 2019.
When Mr. Lowe spotted an armed student in a classroom in the
northeast Portland high school, he bravely tackled the student,
wrestled away the gun, and held the student until police arrived. Mr.
Lowe may have saved the lives of countless students, teachers, and
administrators at Parkrose.
In Mr. Lowe's own words the day after the incident, ``When I signed
up to be a security guard, football and track and field coach for
Parkrose High School, I did so to guide and coach young people whose
shoes I had once been in. I had no idea that I would one day have to
put my life on the line like I did yesterday for my students.''
Mr. Lowe is no stranger to the spotlight. Before becoming the
football and track coach at Parkrose, Mr. Lowe was a standout football
player in Oregon at Jesuit High School and then the University of
Oregon, U of O, ``Go Ducks!''
As an U of O alumnus, I witnessed Mr. Lowe's standout play both in
Autzen Stadium in Eugene and in the 2015 national championship game
against the Ohio State University.
All Ducks fans know Mr. Lowe as a champion on the field, and now all
of Oregon and the country, know him as a hero off the field.
Mr. Lowe's heroics saved the day on a Friday morning just before
noon. Students, teachers, and administrators at Parkrose, as well as
their loved ones, are incredibly grateful that Mr. Lowe prevented what
could have been a tragedy in my hometown.
Sadly, far too many schools in my State and across America have not
been so fortunate in the past few decades. Gun violence in schools has
essentially created a ``lockdown generation'' of students whose happy
memories of high school dances, games, plays, and other activities
jostle alongside memories of lockdown drills and, in far too many
instances, violent gunmen.
Again, in Mr. Lowe's own words, ``I'm blessed to be alive and
extremely happy that the students are safe. I'm not sure what's next, I
haven't had the time to really think about it. But I am sure I want to
be a part of the solution to school gun violence.''
[[Page S3001]]
I am grateful that Mr. Lowe prevented the worst on May 17, 2019, and
welcome his commitment to be a teammate in reducing the chances of gun
tragedies in every school in America.
Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, today, I would like to honor Keanon
Lowe's heroism and bravery in tackling a gunman at Parkrose High School
on May 17, 2019. Mr. Lowe is known for being a top wide receiver for
University of Oregon's football team and now as a popular coach of
football and track and field at Parkrose High School. He also works as
a security guard at the school.
On Friday, May 17, a distraught student entered a Parkrose classroom
with a shotgun. Already this year, our Nation has watched children die
at the hands of their armed classmates, including two young men who
sacrificed their lives to stop gunmen and save their fellow students.
To prevent such a tragedy, Mr. Lowe, in a tremendous act of courage,
tackled the armed student and wrestled away the gun before anyone could
be injured.
Mr. Lowe put his life on the line to protect our students. Mr. Lowe
has not only guided students on the field, but now he has also
protected them in the classroom. He will no doubt be remembered by
those students for the rest of their lives as an example of
selflessness and courage.
On behalf of all Oregonians, I express our deepest gratitude and
admiration to Mr. Lowe, and thank him for his service to Parkrose
students, every Parkrose family, and all Oregonians.
____________________
