The five stories of shimmering glass, brick, steel and concrete that make up the dazzling Lowell-Steven’s North End Zone structure has been in use for two seasons. The destiny of Arizona athletics, especially its football program, was forever changed with the charitable contributions made by two families several years ago. On the northeast side of the Lowell-Stevens building, to the right of the entrance, are plaques honoring the major contributors to the project, Dave and Edith Lowell and Jeff and Sharon Stevens, among others.

The most significant symbol of Arizona sports tradition, the bust of Button Salmon was moved from McKale Center to Arizona Stadium, near Gate 2, when the Lowell-Stevens addition was completed. His immortal words, “Bear Down,” have been a rallying cry for all UA athletes and fans, and it was fitting and right that this memorial to a fallen Wildcat be moved closer to the football stadium.

As the crow flies, it’s probably less than 150 yards from the gleaming Football facility. Near the entrance of the Jefferson Basketball/Volleyball practice facility, there is a secluded, quiet memorial. There are park benches arranged in a semi-circle, shaded by trees, surrounding a pyramid structure that honors members of the 1942 Arizona Wildcat Football team, the last team Arizona fielded until after World War II had ended.

On a quiet summer morning, I reflected on the sacrifice these Wildcats had made.

This memorial was made possible by the contribution of the Lowell family, benefactors of not only the athletic department, but of the University of Arizona School of Mining as well.

Saving the world.

In February of 1945, the invasion of Iwo Jima, an island just 600 miles off the Japanese mainland, and thought to be a strategic airfield in the event of a future potential invasion of Japan, began. 2nd Lieutenant Bill Howell was part of the expeditionary force, as a member of the newly formed 5th Marines division.

History records a less than expected resistance from the Japanese forces — initially. But soon after, those in this Pacific “D” Day invasion found out the reason; the Japanese troops were well dug in, literally, and could move around the island through an intricate series of tunnels and caves, in some areas two or three stories beneath the surface. The month-long battle is often referred to as one of the fiercest of WWII. Many of the Japanese troops were hidden and were able to confront the landed marines in unexpected positions. The raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi would become a symbol of American will and bravery. Several weeks into the conflict, Bill Lowell, only 22 years old, was killed in action.

It was this sacrifice and devotion to all that we Americans hold dear, which is commemorated in the memorial near the Jefferson facility. Many may not realize that the next highest gift for the Richard Jefferson basketball/volleyball and swimming facility was the multi-million dollar donation given by Dave and Edith Lowell, which would include this tribute, not only to his brother, but also to his teammates from the 1942 team who also lost their lives during WWII, Rue Mattice and Stanley Petropolis.

Their stories are worth telling and remembering. If it were up to me, it would be ingrained in the consciousness of every single scholarship athlete at the University of Arizona, and the fans as well. The sacrifices of the “Greatest Generation,” made possible the peace and prosperity we have enjoyed for seven decades.

Dave Lowell himself played football for one season, 1945, playing on an undefeated 5-0 Wildcat team in a shortened campaign. A kind professor took him aside and suggested that Lowell’s real future might lie in the mining industry.

That had to be one of the greatest calls from the halls of academia in the history of mankind.

Dave Lowell graduated from the University of Arizona in 1949, later received an additional degree from Stanford, and went on to discover more copper ore throughout the world than anyone else in history. My friend Len Judd, Scottsdale, Arizona, former COO of Phelps Dodge Mining Corporation, and himself a University of Arizona School of Mining alum recently told me: “It’s hard to find a significant copper ore body in the world that Dave Lowell hasn’t had some role in – usually a major role.”

In fact, Dave Lowell is cited as “the greatest explorer of the 20th century,” by those in the know, in the world of mining, having been responsible for discovering more of the vital element of copper than any other human being – billions and billions of ounces of the stuff. And as a result, became enormously successful, making the mining companies he consulted for extremely profitable. It’s probably not a stretch at all to say that no single alumnus from Arizona has contributed more to the welfare of the modern world. But according to Scott Shake, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development, Dave Lowell is one of the “most modest men you’ll ever meet.”

As a contingency to his major gift for the basketball practice facility, Dave Lowell asked that this memorial be included in the plans. If you haven’t seen it yet, drop by. It’s on the northeast corner of the facility, but like its benefactor, it’s understated. You might walk right by it if you weren’t looking for it; very much in keeping with the attitude of the greatest generation. They did what they had to do in 1941-1945, and then, like Dave Lowell, went onto other tasks, like finding enough of a strategic metal to fuel the peacetime recovery of the nations. All in a day’s work.

One of the strange ironies of fate and history is that we will never know what these brave men would have accomplished, had they lived out their lives in the world they preserved for all of us who followed. What we do know is that the world they saved with their sacrifice allowed all of us a life and freedom to pursue our dreams; to enjoy a Saturday evening football game, an opportunity to build new memories, and reflect on why we have that opportunity.

The truncated pyramid memorial at Jefferson is a tribute to three Wildcat heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice to their country. They excelled at something far greater than athletics, something of greater substance than yards gained or points scored. They loved their country more than their own lives. Bear Down, indeed.

World News & Prophecy Report

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