[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E19-E20]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF TYLER TRENT, A PURDUE BOILERMAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 8, 2019

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
and legacy of Tyler Trent, a twenty-year-old Purdue University student 
journalist and super fan who devoted his all too short life to 
inspiring and helping others. He recently lost his battle with cancer 
as 2019 began. Tyler Trent is now a name known in households across the 
nation for his love of Purdue football and his inspiring passion and 
energy as a fan. The people of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District 
are forever grateful for Tyler's significant impact on Purdue 
University, the State of Indiana, and our nation.
  Tyler was a life-long Hoosier, a native of Carmel, Indiana and son of 
Tony and Kelly Trent. The oldest of three brothers, he was always 
described as a special kid who ``stood out'' his entire life. This 
maturity would follow Tyler throughout his life as he faced three 
consecutive battles with osteosarcoma or bone cancer, starting at the 
age of 15. Determined not to let cancer impede his dreams of attending 
Purdue University, Tyler graduated from high school and scored in the 
1500s on the SAT. His hard work and dedication to success earned him 
the Presidential Scholarship to Purdue in early 2017. This scholarship 
is awarded to individuals with high academic achievement, leadership, 
and service in their school or community. Determined to not let cancer 
dictate his life, Tyler began college at Purdue University in the fall 
of 2017. Unwavering in his dream to be a Boilermaker and become a 
national sports writer, Tyler attended class during the week and 
returned home on the weekends for cancer treatment at Riley Hospital 
for Children.
  His remarkable spirit was evidenced by his unwillingness to let 
cancer impede his passion for Boilermaker football, attending Purdue 
football games and cheering on his favorite team whenever possible. His 
passion was quickly recognized by Coach Jeff Brohm, who admired his 
fight and inability to quit. When asked about his future, Tyler stated, 
``The immediate future in my mind . . . Purdue beats number two-ranked 
Ohio State.'' And they did. He also earned the position of honorary 
team captain. The team often credited Tyler for their wins, 
particularly the Old Oaken Bucket game. Ever committed to his 
Boilermakers, he attended his last game while in hospice care.
  Beyond Tyler's love of sports was a love of doing good. Even as he 
battled osteosarcoma, Tyler thought of others, forming an organization 
called Teens With a Cause where he raised over $100,000 for pediatric 
cancer research. The organization recruited kids to do service projects 
for families affected by cancer, such as raking leaves, shoveling snow 
and running errands. Tyler also volunteered with the Purdue Dance 
Marathon, which raises money for Riley Hospital for Children and the 
Purdue Center for Cancer Research. Committed to advancing research and 
curing his cancer, Tyler donated the tissue from his tumor for 
research, one of the first osteosarcoma patients at Riley to do so. 
When speaking about tissue donation, Tyler said ``I feel like I'm 
getting to view my legacy come to life. I'm incredibly thankful that 
I'm getting to see the impact tissue donation is having. Most people 
don't get to live long enough to see their impact but I'm getting 
blessed with that.''
  A true testament to his outstanding character, Tyler was the subject 
of ESPN features and received the Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest 
Hoosier honor bestowed by Governor Holcomb. In December 2018, he was 
the recipient of Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award, given 
annually to college football's most inspirational individual or team. 
When Tyler received that award, he said, ``At the end of the day, 
there's always a light at the end of the tunnel and as long as you rely 
on your faith, things will work out.'' Finally, Tyler wrote an 
autobiography entitled The Upset: Life, Sports, Death, and the Legacy 
in Between, The `TYLER STRONG' Story, with a portion of every purchase 
being donated to cancer research in Trent's name.
  It is with that optimistic and positive outlook on life that Tyler 
was able to inspire the nation. He has united Americans far and wide to 
be Boilermakers. Tyler will be forever missed by his family, friends, 
colleagues, and the entire Purdue community. I hope we can all live 
every day as he did: #Tyler Strong. On behalf of Indiana's Fifth 
Congressional District, I extend my deepest condolences to Tyler's 
parents, Tony and Kelly Trent, his two brothers,

[[Page E20]]

Ethan and Blake, and his extended family and friends who mourn his 
loss. Tyler's inexplicable ability to find good in every situation will 
continue to inspire the State of Indiana and our nation, now and in the 
future.

                          ____________________