SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 287
WHEREAS, Keith Downey is being honored with a 2025
Outstanding Texan Award from the Texas Legislative Black
Caucus; and
WHEREAS, A native of Houston, Mr. Downey graduated from
Kashmere High School in 1980, and he went on to attend Prairie View
A&M University, to major in architecture at The University of Texas
at Arlington, and to study servant leadership at Cornell University
and environmental justice at Texas Southern University; relocating
to New York City in the late 1980s, he began designing affordable
housing for low-income families, and he distinguished himself
during a longtime career as an architectural designer and as a
senior construction project manager for the city; in 2011 and 2012,
he was recognized for helping to rebuild more than 20 parks in
Brooklyn and in Queens and for assisting with the creation of an
accessible playground for children with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Downey subsequently returned to Houston, where
he has since earned a reputation for his dedication to community
service; a founding director and the director of partnerships for
the Northeast Houston Redevelopment Council, he advocates for
residents, and he helped found the Northeast Community Farmers
Market, which addresses food insecurity in the Kashmere and Trinity
Gardens neighborhoods; during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, he
assisted in the rescue of hundreds of Harris County area citizens,
and he played a key role in establishing a resilience hub for
disaster training; moreover, he has worked with ProUnitas to
provide support services for area school systems, and he is
president of the Kashmere Gardens Super Neighborhood Council
No. 52 and a member of the Texas General Land Office citizen
advisory committee; he was honored by the City of Houston with the
recognition of July 23, 2020, as Keith Downey Day, and he has also
been named a Houston Hero by the Houston Chronicle and a recipient
of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, 2023, and
2024; in all his endeavors, he enjoys the love and support of his
wife, Roshida; and
WHEREAS, Keith Downey sets an inspiring example of service
and achievement for his fellow Texans, and he is indeed deserving
of special recognition for all that he has accomplished in behalf
of the community of Houston; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th
Legislature, hereby congratulate Keith Downey on his receipt of a
2025 Outstanding Texan Award from the Texas Legislative Black
Caucus and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for Mr. Downey as an expression of high regard from the
Texas Senate.
Miles
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 18, 2025.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate