Arizona booster and Tucson High and UA graduate David Lowell died earlier this week at 92. His passing was announced Wednesday evening and Arizona head coach Kevin Sumlin released a statement about Lowell's passing.
A geologist and titan of the mining world, Lowell and his wife Edith have been major supporters of the University of Arizona. They have donated millions of dollars to the school including a substantial amount of money that has gone to the athletic department. Lowell gave $2.5 million to help pay for construction of Richard Jefferson Gymnasium plus he gave the football program $11 million that helped the athletic department build what would later become known as the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility.
"The entire Arizona football family is saddened to hear of Dave Lowell's passing," Sumlin said in a statement. "Dave is an extraordinary individual whose accomplishments are rivaled only by his humility. He is a great example of what it means to be a Wildcat for life and we are so grateful to have been able to know him and share in his passion for the university and community."
Mary Poulton and Mark Barton of the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources at the University of Arizona also released a statement about Lowell's death.
A geologist and titan of the mining world, Lowell and his wife Edith have been major supporters of the University of Arizona. They have donated millions of dollars to the school including a substantial amount of money that has gone to the athletic department. Lowell gave $2.5 million to help pay for construction of Richard Jefferson Gymnasium plus he gave the football program $11 million that helped the athletic department build what would later become known as the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility.
"The entire Arizona football family is saddened to hear of Dave Lowell's passing," Sumlin said in a statement. "Dave is an extraordinary individual whose accomplishments are rivaled only by his humility. He is a great example of what it means to be a Wildcat for life and we are so grateful to have been able to know him and share in his passion for the university and community."
Mary Poulton and Mark Barton of the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources at the University of Arizona also released a statement about Lowell's death.
Dave was a true gentleman, generous with his time and advice. He was a wonderful mentor and friend to all of us. Dave and his wife Edith were extremely generous in their support of the University of Arizona. Not only were they the namesake and major donors for the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources, but they also endowed the Lowell Program in Economic Geology and, recently, a new chair for the Head of Mining and Geological Engineering, as well as additional gifts toward both programs. They were also major contributors to the athletic program, including the Lowell-Stevens football facility, as well as to other University causes.
Dave was the most successful explorer of the last 60 years, having discovered, or co-discovered at least 12 major ore bodies that have become major mines including the world’s largest copper district, Escondida (Chile). Not only an explorer, he made major contributions to the science, notably through his synthesis and applications of alteration zoning in porphyry copper systems. These concepts, first expressed in his 1970 paper with John Guilbert, are key in exploring for porphyry copper deposits and have been applied by generations of geologists worldwide. Dave captured his experiences in ‘The Intrepid Explorer’ and later summed up his career as a contrarian explorer as the Lacy Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Arizona in 2013.
We have lost an outstanding professional, a great colleague, mentor, and personal friend. Our prayers and thoughts will include Dave, his wife Edith, and his family.
Sumlin had Lowell speak to the Wildcats ahead of the team's game against Arizona State back in 2018.Dave was the most successful explorer of the last 60 years, having discovered, or co-discovered at least 12 major ore bodies that have become major mines including the world’s largest copper district, Escondida (Chile). Not only an explorer, he made major contributions to the science, notably through his synthesis and applications of alteration zoning in porphyry copper systems. These concepts, first expressed in his 1970 paper with John Guilbert, are key in exploring for porphyry copper deposits and have been applied by generations of geologists worldwide. Dave captured his experiences in ‘The Intrepid Explorer’ and later summed up his career as a contrarian explorer as the Lacy Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Arizona in 2013.
We have lost an outstanding professional, a great colleague, mentor, and personal friend. Our prayers and thoughts will include Dave, his wife Edith, and his family.
