Deerfield cuts ribbon on new Graham Lowe Family Health and Fitness Center | PHOTOS

ALBANY — Graham Lowe has never been accused of being a man of few words, but when Deerfield-Windsor School cut the ribbon on its new 8,800-square-foot, $2.15 million Graham Lowe Family Health and Fitness Center Thursday, the usually long-winded former educator kept his remarks brief.

“I am out of my skull excited, not just for me, but for all of us,” Lowe said. “When we came here in 1966 we came on the back of good fail bonds and faith in God. We were looking for a sixth sense and discovered God has a perfect plan for everybody.”

The new center includes a multipurpose/wrestling room, a weight training facility, coaches offices and a trainers suite.

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“What you see around you today was built on faith along with a great staff, great teachers, great coaches and a great student body. I could not be happier,” he said.

Lowe became Deerfield’s first headmaster when the school opened in 1966 and he later served as inaugural head coach of football, boys and girls basketball and baseball. He also headed tennis and track during his tenure. His wife, Betty, served as a math and science teacher and in later years a school counselor.

For the last 50 years there have been 15 members of the Lowe family involved in Deerfield, either as headmaster, teacher, coach, counselor, parent or student — five of whom are DWS alumni. Allen Lowe. Graham’s son, is DWS’s current head football coach.

“The Lowe family can easily be considered Deerfield-Windsor School’s first family,” DWS Headmaster Dave Davies said. “Graham Lowe was the school’s first full-time headmaster, and he established many of the athletic teams that continue today. In fact, he not only founded these sports but also coached most of them. Graham’s wife, Betty, served as our upper school counselor and his son, Allen, is our state-championship track and field and football coach. The three Lowe children and several grandchildren attended or still attend DWS.

“The number of years of association that the Lowe family has had with the school is staggering; their contributions are equally noteworthy. We are thrilled this new facility will not only benefit our athletics program, but all students through their physical education classes.”

Aside from the Lowe family and Davies, the person with the broadest smile was Deerfield Athletic Director Gordy Gruhl.

“This means a lot to us, but it’s been a long time coming, at least 10 or 15 years,” Gruhl said. “We are excited about this beautiful new facility that all our kids will get use of. It took us awhile to get here, but the important thing is we got it right.”