In his own words: “I really admire my mother and father. They taught me so many useful things.” – quote from his elementary school yearbook
In other people's words:
“What always strikes me about Corey DePooter is how calm he was during the ordeal in the library. I have often wondered how this reflected onto law enforcement later on as they learned of the faith Corey had put in them during the massacre – did they feel any regret at not acting sooner, at not living up to a young man’s expectations of them? Here Corey was, offering the advice to stay under the tables and that the cops would come to save them. As we now know, that saving party didn’t make it into the library until hours after the shooting initially began.
What strikes me is this courage that went virtually unanswered. What also strikes me is the kindness he displayed amid the danger they were in, reaching out to people and keeping everyone as safe as possible. We know that the tables in the library created sitting ducks out of everyone in hiding and that Corey unfortunately immediately lost his life as the gun was loosely aimed and fired under his table. But it’s that kindness before death that spoke to me as I first learned of it, which is something that can be treasured and carried forward by us in our own lifetimes just as much as Rachel’s compassion or Daniel Mauser’s thoughtful intelligence can.
Corey’s best friend Austin Eubanks sums his character up perfectly (Author’s note: see following quote) “– thedragonrampant, Columbine focused Tumblr account
“He just knew how to handle himself, how to talk… He was respectful to everyone, never looked down on people. He gave everyone a chance.” – Austin Eubanks, best friend
'' I wish it had been me... Now I'm sitting here and I don't have him anymore. I'd rather he lived than me.'' – sister
"It makes me happy to envision that he is doing something he loves. I have dreams in my head of what he is seeing." – his sister thinking about him
"Those are my happiest memories because Corey would let me go back there with him. It was pretty muddy and wet, but that made it even more fun." – his sister recalling memories of vacations and outdoor activities with her brother
"There was always a glimmer in his eye and a smile on his face" – Kevin Johnston, language arts teacher
"He was such a neat guy. It really hurts a lot that he's gone. I really have a piece of my heart with Corey DePooter." – Jenny Davis, friend
'' He'd push his white cap back on his head, and smile. He had the perfect smile. He'd say, "How are you today? '' – Jenny Davis recalling memories of Corey
“It was the times we didn’t do well that his personality really shined.” – unidentified friend
''When you’re going fishing or camping, I know he’s going to be there, watching and making sure you’re doing everything right.'' – unidentified friend
“ full of self-confidence but not conceited “ – parents
''very bright and easy to get along with'' – Michael Vendegnia, friend
'' Everybody knew him, everybody liked him. Corey was one of the best friends you'll ever have'' – Rusty Schyler, friend
"He would be home alone on weekends with his parents gone, and there were never any parties. He's a good kid, a wonderful kid." – unidentified neighbour
''He put his schoolwork above all else. But he had numerous outside interests, including in-line skating, golf and wrestling. He quit the wrestling team after his sophomore year to focus on his academics.'' – Bill Greaber, friend
'' He was the friendliest one '' – Bill Greaber recalling Corey as the first person to befriend him when he arrived from Arizona two years prior to the shooting
"I don't think he liked all the classes. But he liked the atmosphere." – Tim Mullan, friend
“Brian lost his good friend and classmate Corey DePooter in the shooting and said there are times when he thinks of him and all the fun times they had in school.” – a Columbine site entry for Brian Anderson, Columbine student injured during the shooting
“I started bawling. I think that was the first time I cried.” – Patrick Ireland, recalling how he felt after finding out that Corey had been killed
In addition to these kind and loving words, one Greg Williams of Centralia, Illinois, a religious preacher if you will, shamelessly exploited Corey's death in a way that eclipses the more known Christian myths and narratives around Columbine High School shooting in it's audacity. This impostor claimed to have been a grief counselor for traumatized students and in front of an audience of roughly 850 parents presented this patently untrue story: '' He was one of only three certified grief counselors from outside Colorado to be assigned a classroom at Chatfield High School where the Columbine students returned to class the first week of May. After introducing himself to the first classroom of students, he said, a boy offered to talk about what happened to him. He told the class he was at Corey's side when Corey was shot in the school library. According to Williams, the boy pulled Corey's body over himself and feigned death for a couple hours as Corey's blood soaked into his shirt. Williams said the boy asked him, "Do you want to see it?" He then unzipped his book bag and pulled out the shirt he had been wearing, still stained with Corey's blood.'' Corey's mother had this to say on this guy: "I cried for all the students in your school system that heard this. He's a pastor, a man of God, and he's lying to children. All I have left of Corey is his name. So, if you're going to talk about his death, tell the truth. How he really died is graphic enough."