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.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate