Mary Downey, I attended both Kashmere Gardens Jr. and Sr. High School @ Hirsch Road Houston Texas from January 1964 to May 1968. We was relocated to Kashmere Sr. High @ Wileyvale September 1968 and I graduated January 1970. I loved all types of sports. I’ve always been a athletic person because of my family and my neighbors on dead end street of Los Angeles in the Kashmere Gardens area. We played every sport we could on that dead end street. I could run faster and jump higher than most boys on that end of the street that was in my age group. I was known for being able to leap the barricade blocking the access to the bayou after running a race with one the Griggs boys or one of the other guys that was willing to race with me.After attending Kashmere I wanted to take physical education every semester because of the activities. I was fortunate enough to have great teachers and coaches while I was attending both schools..

They were very instrumental in my education and they were concerned about my physical health and well being. The coaches that were instrumental in my life were Ms. Randall, Ms. Maiden, Mrs. Williams and Ms. Harris. Mrs. Williams encouraged me to join the volleyball team.  Mrs. Williams and Ms Harris were my volleyball coaches and I played on the volleyball team 1967 to 1970. These two coaches were both strict but fair with me at all times.  I was also able to take classes from Mr. Junious Simon, Mr. Stevenson and Mr. McGowan. Mr. Stevenson was my math teacher and I became great in math because of him. I wanted to transfer out of his classes but he never would let me . He expected a lot from me because he could see something in me that I could not see in myself. He also coached one of my older brothers that played baseball for Kashmere (Josh Downey).I attended Texas Southern University for 2 years. I was a good student but I decided to get and job and get married. Unfortunately I never married and never had children. I went to work and have been working since I was 19 years old. I’ve worked at Texas Children/St. Luke Hospital and Southwestern Bell. I worked at CCCS/Greater Houston Credit Bureau for 17 years.   I worked at Equifax Mortgage Service 5 years as a supervisor. I’m presently working the Money Management International (MMI) since 1995.I has worked in a number of divisions within MMI. I have worked in as a lead and in management for a number of years in the Support division. I’ve been working since 2016 as a financial counselor and hope to retire from MMI.    I’m living with my mother Roberta Downey and she is 95 years old. I will continue to work as long as her health is good and I continue to get the help from my family with my mother. I’m the 5th child of 7 children. All of my brother and sisters attended Kashmere Gardens Jr. and Sr. High or Kashmere High School. I have been active in most of my nieces and nephews life in any way possible. I hope that Kashmere Sr. High remain open many more years so one or more of my great-great nieces and nephews can attend my alumni.  

My nephew Harry Lewis graduated 1991 and played basketball for Kashmere and his father graduated 1974 and played basketball.  My niece Novella Swanyea Smith graduated from Kashmere Sr. High May 2018. She ran track, she was a cheerleader, she played soccer she was a trainer for the boys’ basketball team. Her grandmother was an English teacher at Kashmere Garden Jr. & Sr. High and her name was also Novella Smith. Her grandfather played football for Kashmere and finished January1970 with me.  

I wanted to thank the Former Athletic Alumni Association for considering me for this honor.