Contact: Bob Lee

July 1, 2005

ATHENS, Ohio - "What a beautiful day," Dan Lowe said to me as he looked up at the sky. "Thanks for getting me out of the office."

Under a sunny, cloud-filled sky on a late Tuesday afternoon, D-Lo and I were playing a round of golf on Ohio University's course. Despite shooting a 62 for nine holes, D-Lo was his usual happy self, smiling and talking about his future plans. I could tell he was excited about what lay ahead.

"Do you want to grab dinner after this?" he asked me.

"Sure," I replied, glad to keep his company a little longer. "You can pick the place."

During dinner, D-Lo told me about his latest trip to the rec center.

"Oh man, you should have seen me," he said. "I was dunking the ball better than I ever have before. I don't know what it was but I just had all this energy."

Three nights later, D-Lo passed away suddenly after collapsing during a pick-up basketball game at the Convocation Center. He died while playing the game he loved in a place he cherished.

When I received the phone call that evening, I was in shock. I'm still in shock. D-Lo was everyone's friend. He was my friend.

Here was a clean-cut kid who lived the way we all should. He didn't drink. He didn't smoke. I don't even remember him ever being in a bad mood. The thing that most will remember about him, though, was his passion. He was the most loyal, enthusiastic and genuinely appreciative person I may ever know.

On Wednesday, I met his parents for the first time at his calling hours in his hometown of Canal Fulton. Margaret and Burgess Lowe were holding it together much better than I was.

There were videos and photo albums of Dan and beautiful flowers and wreathes everywhere. But when I saw him in the casket, he didn't look right. He wasn't smiling. D-Lo was always smiling.

D-Lo (face painted) reveled in a Bobcat victory.

I wanted to tell his parents that Dan was a credit to the way they raised him. He was an incredible person who inspired others. For those who knew him and spent time with him on almost a daily basis, it's not just a matter of missing him. His loss has devastated us.

We go on with our daily lives but our hearts are heavy because something is missing. D-Lo was a huge part of Ohio Athletics, a part that will never be replaced.

When I first started working here four years ago, Dan was one of the first students I met and got to know. That was because he was always the first in line whenever we held an event for student fans. He would always give me a great quote for the story I had to write and would always be in the picture that would be included with the story.

For the past two years, we worked alongside each other. I would stop by his cubicle to find out about upcoming promotions, he would stop in my office to talk mostly about basketball, we would sit through staff meetings together and we would occasionally go to lunch together.

Last year, when I co-wrote a story proclaiming him as Ohio's No. 1 fan, he was so proud of it that he printed out color copies of it, laminated them and then autographed them for people around the office. During his time at the school, he had been responsible for making so many others happy that it was a great feeling to make him so happy.

That's how I choose to remember him now. I look up at the sky and picture him atop one of the clouds playing basketball. He's in a heavenly pick-up game, soaring through the air making spectacular dunks, honored to be playing. And he's smiling... always smiling.

But I am just one of a countless many who considered D-Lo a friend. So I encourage others to send me (leer1@ohio.edu) their memories of Dan and I will post them here in a running tribute.

Tim O'Shea - Ohio men's basketball head coach

D-Lo (left) was well known by Ohio's coaches as the most enthusiastic student fan.

My first memory of Dan is when he showed up at walk-on tryouts my first season as the Bobcat coach. He did not make the team but left a lasting impression with his sincere gratitude for being given an opportunity. Next, I recall Dan and friends being the very first people in line to be part a new athletic department venture - the O Zone. Little did I know that Dan would become the leading voice of this group. Who can forget the 6-9 guy with the painted face leading the "winning team, losing team" cheer?

Dan's life ended way too soon - yet, I find it somewhat fitting that if he was to die so young, he essential passed on in the O Zone - a place of great happiness in his life. I was in my office Friday night when I was called to the court as Dan was receiving treatment. He had collapsed in a spot that if you were to extend the bleachers out, he would have been in the O Zone.

Every time I now walk into The Convo, I think of Dan... not with sadness but with pride in one of Ohio's finest. We had not a finer nor more devoted fan - his spirit will live on with all of us. The O Zone is now the D-Lo Zone as far as I am concerned.

Geoff Carlston - Ohio volleyball head coach

I remember when I first met Dan, he was one of the most soft-spoken guys I had ever seen. Then, the next day, he was at our volleyball match going crazy and getting people all fired up for the whole game.

I thought that was one of the coolest combinations I have ever witnessed. On the one hand, down to earth, very easy-going and unassuming. On the other, a passionate motivator who bled green and found new ways to bring people together with purpose.

On the road, D-Lo was just as vocal as he was in The Convo.

Pete Germano - Ohio football recruiting coordinator

During the 2003 recruiting season, we were allowed to put the recruits' names on our video board and Dan would sacrifice his time to come over and collect all the recruits' names and hometowns and then scroll them across the video board while we ate dinner.

Dan was a very giving person. He was always willing to give up his time and was never once concerned with how long he had to be there. He never once worried about when he could get out of there. He just did his job and did it with a smile. I know we're going to miss him.

Dr. Peggy Pruitt - former Ohio Athletics administrator

I am very sorry to hear about Dan. What a Bobcat!! He will surely be missed for a long time. Why we lose someone so young, with some much potential to reach others, is a mystery.

Kevin Kuwik - Mosul, Iraq

I was extremely saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Dan Lowe, probably the most devoted Bobcat I know. I will forever remember D-Lo for his camouflage pants and painted face leading the O Zone in the "winning team, losing team" chant at the culmination of a Bobcat victory.

Upon hearing the news, I watched our highlight video once again last night and there D-Lo was on CBS as Sonny Troutman drained a three to give us a 25-22 lead over Florida, right where he belonged - going crazy in the middle of a group of Ohio students.

D-Lo, you will be missed. Other than Mo Banton, I don't know anyone else who bled green like you did.

Paul Ladwig - Ohio associate athletics director for marketing

D-Lo's passion for the Bobcats extended way beyond just the men's basketball team.

How many times in life do you have the opportunity to be with person who has no other agenda in life other than just being a good person. Dan Lowe was just that person.

I will be forever grateful for our time together. As a member of the Ohio Athletics staff, his last week of work will not go unnoticed as we added some new touches to the O Zone and tweaked a few promotions for this upcoming year.

It's a shame I never got to play golf with him, that would have been a blast! Everyday I'll miss the smile!

Ted Thompson - site administrator for bobcatattack.com

I never met Dan but feel like he's the kind of person I would like to be as a fan but more importantly as a person. Even more impressive is he had those qualities at such a young age. A loss for Ohio, a loss for everyone.

Chris Walk - 2002 Ohio University graduate

I first met Dan when I was a junior and he was a freshman. Over a short time we realized that we had a lot in common and became good friends. I thought that I was a sports fan, but D-Lo showed me otherwise. It became very apparent to me that Dan had immediately fallen in love with this university and its sports programs. It became equally apparent that he wanted everyone else to have that same passion, and led as many of us as he could. I wanted to follow him as we got our first O-Zone seats, despite the fact that it was cold and snowing and we planned on waiting for five or six hours. I followed in many of the cheers that he would start, including the infamous "Winning team! Losing team!" Dan just had a passion that was contagious; something that you wanted to share in.

Dan, however, was also a great man of integrity. We both were involved in Campus Crusade for Christ as students, and I grew to admire Dan in another aspect, his character. Calling it an aspect of his life does him a disservice, for to his credit he was this way to everyone that was around. Few people could know him and not know that he was a man of faith. He was an incredibly giving and big-hearted man. Wednesday at the calling and Thursday at the funeral you could be nothing but amazed that a 24-year-old man could have the kind of impact that he had on as many people as he did.

All this to say that I will miss him. I thank God that I had the opportunity to know Dan Lowe. This world will not be as fun without him.

Aaron Romero - Athens, Ohio

I remember introducing myself saying, "I was you 15 years ago." And always reminding him how jealous I was that he got to talk about The Bobcats, go to all the games, and get paid for it. We had a good visit at BG at the MAC Volleyball Tournament exchanging Bobcat stories.

Even former President Glidden recognized D-Lo's contributions to Ohio's gameday atmosphere.

David Williams - Columbus, Ohio

I first met D-Lo on Orlando Summer Project with Campus Crusade in 2002, and the thing I remember most about him is his sense of humor, tremendous integrity and love for Ohio University. We often joked about the fact that my school, Ohio State, was confused for Ohio University so many times. Which of course he didn't like, because we all know he is OU's number one fan forever. So, in typical D-Lo fashion we made fun of it on a skit during the summer project. You could never be around D-Lo and not have a smile on your face, he would always bring out the best in you. And if he was on your team in basketball, you always knew it would be a good day.

You knew you could count on D-Lo being there to listen to you, laugh with you, and be the best friend anyone could ever ask for. Above all, he was a warrior in helping spread the gospel to the world. I will always remember D-Lo, the world just lost a great man but heaven just gained a great one too.

Rob Scott - Cincinnati, Ohio

Never personally knew D-Lowe. But I am proud to share his alma mater. In the world of over-hyped college programs, D-Lowe represented his allegiance to OHIO the way every student should. Much like myself years before him, he did not bow to the Ohio State or Kentucky influence that so many students still do today. OHIO was his team - his alma mater.

Every drive from Cinci to see the boys hit the hardwood was more enjoyable as I looked across the court to see D-Lowe getting into the game! The way each student should while spending what will be the best time of their life as a Bobcat.

Party on D-Lowe! This is your alma mater and your House!

Joe "BEAV" Strangis (football equipment manager 97-03) - Columbus, Ohio

I sat front row middle for every b-ball came I could attend. Before the O Zone and D-Lo, I did not have as much fun at the games. I would put the "winning team-losing team" chant up against any other school's student section chants. I remember traveling to Marshall on buses arranged by the athletic dept. and walking around the arena with D-Lo and the rest of the gang chanting "This is our house."

My best personal memory was at football games. I would catch punts for our punter right before kickoff. They would cheer for me when I caught it and boo me when I dropped it. It was all in good fun but it shows the type of person D-Lo was. Anything involved with Ohio Athletics, he was a part of and made it exciting. He will be missed by all that knew him. But because his Bobcat spirit was so strong, it will live on forever.

William Tarter Jr. - South Euclid, Ohio

From the very beginning, D-Lo ignited the O Zone, Ohio's rowdy student section.

I first met D-Lo my freshman year - 4 years ago. I was not yet a member of any organization and I saw this flyer for a new section called the O Zone. I thought, "Why not?"

When I arrived at the ticket sales 4 hours early to be first in line, I was greeted by 4 or 5 other guys who had apparently camped out the night to be first. I thought "these guys are crazy." I didn't think that I would ever be so right.

I met a guy by the name of Dan Lowe. A tall man to be sure, but he was passionate. He told me, "If you're going to be a part of this section, you've got to be loud, crazy and passionate about the team. If you are not any of those three, you shouldn't be in this section." I accepted his challenge and was a member of the Ozone all four years until I graduated in 2005.

During those four years, I would see D-Lo at many places including Evolution, after the basketball games and after the football games. Each and every time, he would smile, say hello and stop whatever he was doing to have a conversation with you. That is what I will miss the most about D-Lo. While we rush around doing our everyday activities, we rarely stop and truly listen to what other people are saying. He did that every day, in every conversation, with every person. He cared.

The last conversation I had with D-Lo was him assuring me that it was okay that I did the "Winning Team, Losing Team" cheer, even after both the teams had left and there wasn't O Zone was clamoring for us to do it. So I lead it and it was awesome. Afterward, I was told that tradition said that it should be done when there is only a few seconds left on the clock to the entire fans so the opposing team can hear it. I felt terrible. But there was Dan. He patted me on the back, said that I did a great job leading the cheer and if he were in my shoes, he would've done the same thing. I went to lead the cheer a couple more times after that, including the last game when I partnered with Matt, but now every time I hear that cheer, I will forever remember the man, the myth, the legend who started it all. May God keep you in perfect peace Dan, we will never, ever forget you.

Chris Moberg - Ohio University associate professor of marketing

I was teaching a class in London when I learned the incredibly sad news of Dan's passing. I logged in to ohiobobcats.com at 2 in the morning just for an update on Bobcat athletics and immediately saw a picture of Dan. My first thought was that he had been promoted, but then my heart sank when I read the headline. Needless to say, like many people, I didn't sleep well at all that night as I thought about the loss of such a good kid and the fragile nature of life.

I don't think you could call Dan and I friends in the strictest sense of the word. However, like many other Bobcat fans, I had a warm relationship with Dan because he would always make a point to stop by and say hi at just about every athletic event and function my family and I attended. As others have stated, he was always positive, energetic, and happy. He met my son Kevin at an event over a year ago and always remembered his name and greeted him with a handshake or a high five every time he saw us.

I also had the opportunity to play basketball with Dan a couple of times at the Convo this winter. On one night, tempers were flaring a bit as a few people were taking the game too seriously and were committing hard fouls and sniping at each other. After this went on for a few plays, Dan finally said, "Come on guys, this is only a game. There are more important things than who wins this game."

I remember being impressed by his words and the calming influence he had on the other guys, especially because Dan was competing as hard as everyone else that night. This proper perspective on life can be difficult to find in men as young as Dan, but he certainly had it. From reading the thoughts and recollections of Dan's friends, it appears that the "more important things" to Dan were family, friends, faith, and supporting Ohio University and Bobcat athletics.

For my small part, my tribute to Dan will be to remain a positive, loyal supporter of Bobcat athletics and, more importantly, remember to keep my thoughts on the important things the next time someone cuts me off in traffic or I get stressed out at work. Dan will surely be missed.

D-Lo was always the first in line to claim his O Zone seats.

Darian Rawson - Detroit, Michigan

Unlike many of the people at Ohio University, I didn't get the blessing of seeing Dan Lowe on an everyday basis. I was only in his presence for 2 months in the summer of 2002. Dan and I were part of a student group in Orlando at the Campus Crusade Headquarters. I remember the love that Dan had for all of his fellow students, almost as if it would never run out. I remember doing some car washes in Orlando, which in hindsight, turned out to be a very bad idea. It rains every day in Orlando, and no one wants a car washed when it's raining. However, Dan being the extremely passionate and creative person he was, decided to give out free hugs. People actually stopped to get a free hug. He seemed to have a special gift of making people feel so welcome and accepted.

More than anything, I remember his love and passion for serving others. It was only after Summer Project that I learned of the full extent of his intense love of Ohio sports. It seemed so fitting. Anything that Dan touched, he found some way to leave it better than he found it, and to make a special event out of it. He was the sort of guy that you always wanted to hang out with. While my heart is heavy for the loss of his family, and for the state of Ohio, I am also so happy to see how he touched so many other people. I only knew Dan a short time. It was such a blessing. I am glad I had the chance to be a part of his life and that we could share some laughs. Even more of a blessing was experiencing his intense love for his friends, family and sharing the Gospel. He is truly a one of a kind inspiration to everyone that knew him. I will always remember Dan Lowe, and I hope his family will know the immense difference that Dan was able to make in my life in our short time together. Those that experience D-Lo on a daily basis are truly blessed.

Joseph Hughes - Kent, Ohio

Working as one of two men's basketball official courtside statisticians for six years, I would always arrive at The Convo a few hours before each game to set up. Normally, this time would be spent quietly preparing for each game, watching the team shoot around and talking to university staffers and fans as they arrived. Dan Lowe - first as fan and then as employee - was frequently one such person. On my way past the student seats to press row and the press room, I'd shake hands with Dan and discuss the game ahead. Shaking hands with Dan was always interesting for me as, at 6-6 myself, it was rather odd being the short one in the equation. He was always one of the last fans to leave afterward too and was always there for postgame conversation as I was busy tearing down our courtside position.

As someone who was voted Most Spirited in high school, I really appreciated the impact Dan had on The Convo's cheering section. He was a leader. A motivator. He was always positive. Having traveled around the Mid-American Conference and nation as a statistician for the Ohio Sports Network radio football crew, I've seen student fans of every stripe. Never on their best days did I see fans come anywhere near Dan's passion and classiness. He was, to be sure, old school: When most people would resort to a cheap line or personal attacks to get a cheer, Dan would use his stature to positively get people in the game. And there's something to be said for being a class act.

As far as I'm concerned, there will always be an empty seat in the O Zone. Consider it retired. Off limits. A tribute to a great fan and a memorial to a great person.

Howard Rudolph (former sports director WATH/WXTQ) - Cleveland, Ohio

D-Lo was the greatest fan I have ever seen. Growing up in Cleveland and being accustomed to "Big Dawg" Thompson and the Indians drummer, I've seen some wild fans. But D-Lo was the greatest. I've never seen one man have such an effect on so many fans. He was the essense of the O Zone, and his legacy will live on as long as a bunch of wild fans in white t-shirts show up to cheer on the Bobcats. D-Lo is and was one of the great people I got to know in my time at Ohio University, and I would love to see the O Zone and this upcoming hoops season dedicated to him.

Rob Metzger (D-Lo's college roommate) - Beckley, West Virginia

The cameras always seemed to find D-Lo (upper left) in the crowd.

Wow, what a legacy. From the newspaper articles to the many messages left for D-Lo on this website and bobcatattack.com, it is obvious our friend left quite a mark on anyone he came into contact with.

Fittingly, my first memory of Dan was meeting up with him and some fellow students at a Campus Crusade for Christ pregame event before an Ohio football game. From the start, he was painted up and ready to support the Bobcats. It was the first of many, many Bobcat events we would seem to team up at with other friends... from our multiple trips to the MAC hoops tourney our freshman year, driving to the Ohio/Florida game in Gainesville, to most recently sitting together with all of our friends, watching what seemed to be an improbable comeback at the MAC basketball championship game in Cleveland.

From the start, I always admired D-Lo's passion for Bobcat sports. But more so I admired his giving spirit and his strong Christian faith. I know he always was trying to be an example of what it meant to be a Christian and let God's love shine through in anything he did.

D-Lo, all 6-foot-9 of him, left a mark much larger than that all over campus and in many of our lives. I know I am thankful I can call him fellow Bobcat fan, roommate and friend. I am confident his friends and all of Ohio University will not let the legend of D-Lo to ever be forgotten.

Matthew Thompson - Cincinnati, Ohio

Dan was one of the first upperclassmen that I met during my freshman year of college. There was something about Dan that was amazing. He was kind and gentle to everyone he met. The only time I have ever seen him upset was with an official on The Convo floor. Dan loved sports and being a fan, which passed on to me. Because of him, I have fallen in love with Ohio Athletics. I had the opportunity of a lifetime to drive to Florida to watch OU football, to Cincy to watch OU play UK in basketball and countless other trips to support our Bobcats. Dan taught me to cheer, he taught all of us to cheer.

On and off the court, Dan touched our lives. It is amazing to see how many people Dan has touched. It is even more amazing to see how he has touched our lives since his death. In his honor, it is our duty to have his name live on. His name will never die at OHIO. Please take time to pray for Dan's parents during this time. Lastly, if anyone has any thought or ideas of how to make Dan's name live on, please email me at mt312401@ohio.edu.

Everyone who crossed paths with D-Lo was better off for it.

Chris Cieto - Nashua, New Hampshire

During my fifth year at OU, I met D-Lo as a freshman through Campus Crusade for Christ. I had heard there was a large contingency of sharp freshmen guys from South Green who loved the Lord. None stood out more than D-Lo; his 6-9 lean frame guaranteed that.

Yet it was his heart that overshadowed his size. I remember one particular conversation with him in Baker Student Center. I don't remember the details of what we spoke about but I recall a young man, 18, who despite his size, exuded a gentle, humble spirit. He was almost unsure of himself.

I went to France for a year and returned as a Campus Crusade for Christ intern to find a young man who had grown tremendously; a large task for such a giant. He had grown in self-confidence, finding true acceptance in Jesus Christ who loved him.

I last saw Dan when I returned to OU this past April for a visit. He came up and gave me a big hug. I hadn't seen him in over a year but that's the way he was. Always warm, friendly, and accepting. Christ's acceptance flowed through him to everyone he met. When I remember D-Lo, I will always think of that conversation, seeing that growth, and that big hug.

See you in heaven, D-Lo.

Kevin Witham - Ohio University associate director of undergraduate admissions

I did not know Dan well but spoke to him at the games and just saw him a few weeks before his death during the Bobcat baseball season and at a Copperheads game. Friends and I always laughed at the basketball games when he did the promotion events and he would get the crowd going by saying "give it up for..." And we would laugh because he would say it about 20 times to get the crowd going. He certainly was a fan and understood the importance of audience/fan participation.

Dennis Thompson (former Bobcat football player) - Tallmadge, Ohio

We will miss D-Lowe dearly. How can something like this happen to someone like that? Truly a man for others. D-Lowe, we will miss you and remember you forever.

Emily Braden - Canton, Ohio

No words quite seem fitting to describe the passion and energy D-Lo had for life, yet I can say that from the moment I met him he was an inspiration. My first memory of D-Lo was when I met him at a crusade party wearing a tall "cat in the hat" hat making him quite possibly the tallest person I had ever encountered. Little did I know the huge impact he would have on my life. He became the first person to make me feel like I belonged at Ohio University.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about D-Lo's character was that I could walk down the street with him and it seemed as if the entire campus knew who he was, shouting "hi" in passing, yet even among his popularity, he was always the first person to take time out of his day and offer words of encouragement if I was having a bad day.

He was the perfect example of a "good and faithful servant" and took every opportunity to spread joy in the lives of others! D-Lo, you are missed and I look forward to dancing with you again in heaven!