Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rowe Austraw was a good friend of mine in college. I have been trying to reconnect with old friends recently and found Rowe, unfortunately, through the memorial pages which have been set up for him.

I didn't know that he had chosen to become a peace officer. I didn't know that he was married and had a child, and another on the way.

I met Rowe through ROTC classes we took together at Ricks College (Now known as BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho in the late 80's. I was the First Sergeant for the battalion's Ranger Challenge competition team. My responsibility included the physical training of the team. Rowe was one of the most dedicated, hard working soldiers in the squad.

There was something else about Rowe, however. He had to be one of the most easy-going soldiers I've ever met, without being a slacker. At times I regretted being placed in a position of higher rank because I really wanted to be his friend. Rowe made friends easily. I never heard a bad word spoken about him by any of the other cadets.

Even five years after his death and not having spoken to him in more than ten years, I still feel a profound sense of loss at learning of this tragedy.

There isn't enough space here for me to share all my memories, but I'm certainly glad to have known Rowe for the short time that I did.

He was my friend.

Scott Ennis
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