Joe Lowe's Legacy of Smiles

By Monster Jam Media
Oct 16, 2012

  While it is natural that so many tears will be shed in the coming days as legendary Owensboro radio personality and Monster Jam® announcer Joe Lowe is laid to rest, it is a bit ironic as well because when you look at all of the great things Joe did and accomplished in his too few years on this earth the common thread that runs through them all is that Joe was on a mission……a mission to make you smile. Joe committed his life to bringing happiness to others, especially those in need and going through hard times. He was that way with everyone. There is no doubt in my mind that as we move forward and a thought of Joe comes to mind, or the discussion centers on this great communicator, the first thing that will happen as soon as you think of Joe is that you will smile. You can't help it. That's what he did, and I can think of no one who has ever put more smiles on more faces. This is the most difficult piece I've ever written with so many thoughts and memories of Joe flooding my mind but with each one, there is that same theme: you think about Joe and you have to smile.

All of those smiles were created by a man who also leaves a legacy of excellence and that is a legacy that will carry on into the future. You see another aspect of Joe that touched so many lives was his willingness to lend his experience and his expertise to others. As the voice that the city of Owensboro has awakened to for decades Lowe has taken countless young talents under his wing, taught them the radio business, and watched them flourish in their broadcasting careers. In the Monster Jam world Joe has had an even larger influence. He was one of the originals, announcing this thrilling sport as these huge monster trucks evolved from being the filler act at tractor pulls to their own crowd pleasing competitions. Throughout his quarter century of entertaining fans all over the world at Monster Jam events Joe was also a mentor to almost every announcer working these events today. As the sport continued to expand and more and more announcers were brought in to fill the demand it was Joe who trained most of them, who again took them under his wing and helped develop them. In so many ways it was Joe who created the template for Monster Jam announcers, being the conduit that bonded the fans with the trucks and drivers, and he was always willing to teach his craft to the next up and coming Monster Jam announcer. While we may not enjoy the pleasure of hearing him on the microphone at these events any more, make no mistake about it, his legacy and influence live on through the announcers who continue to take what Joe taught them and put it to use at Monster Jam events with the same ultimate goal – putting smiles on faces.

Lowe added enjoyment to Monster Jam events of all sizes, having the mic in his hand at some of the sport's biggest events in front of live crowds that often exceeded 50,000 fans. He was great no matter the venue, but where he was really in a class of his own was in the smaller arenas and at the racetracks and fairgrounds that in many ways form the backbone of today's Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam. His unique ability to make everyone his friend shined through so brilliantly everywhere but maybe the best example is Lebanon Valley Speedway in New York. A staple of the annual schedule at that popular race track, Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam has been packing the stands there for over two decades and Joe Lowe has been the announcer at almost every one of those events. He's a part of the family there. The voice of Joe Lowe is as much a beloved part of those events as another battle between Grave Digger® and Maximum Destruction® and that provides a perfect example of what made events announced by Lowe so special for the fans. When you were at an event Joe announced you felt like you were an intimate part of everything that was happening. His ability to connect with the fans in the stands, to make them feel like he was talking only to them, that this was their show and he was there to make sure they had a great time was special. Millions of smiles on millions of faces.

I have never appreciated Facebook more than right now. The outpouring of love and support for Joe and his family that you see on that social media outlet is truly amazing, a firsthand example of just how many lives were touched by this great man and how deep his influence is felt in the Owensboro area and in the Monster Jam world. So many of those messages have been posted by fans, some of whom never actually met Joe, who he was able to make feel like they were his personal friends none the less. That jovial voice on the radio, that booming excitement over the microphone when the big trucks came to town, that unique style that made you feel like he was talking only to you, and that his mission was to make you happy. To make you smile. Many of the Facebook messages about Joe will make you cry, but then you will see so many incredible pictures of Joe with fans and friends that are being posted there, and once again, you cannot help but smile.

Fellow Monster Jam announcers Mitch Smith and Ed Dunning were able to spend time with Joe over the past couple of weeks as he battled cancer and Mitch was telling me about a long conversation he and Joe had about this popular sport that he has had such a large influence on. The conversation had nothing to do with all the great things that Joe had done in the sport. It was about touching lives, about making others happy. To no surprise, Mitch said that the main theme of their conversation was the happiness that Joe said he has seen Monster Jam bring to so many, especially those with special needs. Joe talked about so many of those youngsters he would see at a pit party and what a special thrill it was for him to be able to meet them and their parents, and see the smiles on their faces when he would introduce them to a Dennis Anderson or a Tom Meents. That was always one of his greatest pleasures, seeing the sheer delight that those kids had in meeting their heroes. So many of them were going through such difficult times in their lives and Joe was on that mission of his, that even if it was just for a few hours, he was going to bring happiness into their world. He would put smiles on their faces. He would accomplish that mission every time.

There will be a benefit in Owensboro for Joe's family this Saturday, the day following his funeral. The city of Owensboro and the Monster Jam world will be coming together that day for our chance to give a little back to the family of this man who gave so much to so many others, and along with the sadness at the loss all of us are feeling, this will be a day to celebrate the life of Joe Lowe. To honor this extraordinary man and what he brought to so many, how many lives he touched, how much he gave of himself to so many others. If there is any way that you are reading this and can make it to Owensboro on Saturday October 20 please join us and be a part of this celebration of what Joe Lowe brought into all of our lives.

To Joe's wife Kathy, his daughters Sandy and Karen, to his grand children Brittani, Lexie, and Chloe, and to his entire family, we thank you for sharing Joe with us. Just know that the Monster Jam family will always be there for you just the way Joe was always there for his fellow announcers as well as our drivers, crews, officials, everyone who works in the sport, and most importantly, the millions of Monster Jam fans.

Joe Lowe is an icon in Owensboro broadcasting and a giant in the world of Monster Jam. While we are so deeply saddened and mournful of his loss, make no mistake about it, the lives of so many of us are so much richer for having known him, for being a small part of the Joe Lowe Experience. So while we shed tears over this tremendous loss, we also think of Joe and just smile. That is the ultimate tribute to Joe, and I have to believe as he is looking down on us it is those smiles that make him happiest. While Joe Lowe will be badly missed, he will never be forgotten. His legacy of excellence, and that legacy of smiles, lives on.