[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[Senate]
[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.

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