Mr. Josh E. Downey Jr is a 1967 student-athlete graduate of Kashmere Jr Sr High School. His parents Josh Sr and Roberta Cooper Downey raised the family of five James, Amelia, Edward, Mary, Noel and Sandra. Josh the middle child was very athletic growing up and played several sports, but his love for the game of baseball was greater. Josh began playing baseball at an early age with his friends in the neighborhood. They played for the Eagles which were sponsored by Wooten Drug Stores. Josh was a very friendly and charismatic person. He made friends very easily, and always had some of his baseball teammates hanging out at our home. Once Josh entered Kashmere Gardens High School in steps Coach Henry Stevenson to tutor Josh and take his game to another level. He became the starting third baseman on talented lace baseball squad. During Josh baseball career at Kashmere they were the 1965 State Championship and state runner-up in 1966. Josh’s contribution to the team can best be summed up with these comments from his teammate Joseph C. Gordon quote: Josh would play up on the grass at third base and taunt the batters to hit the ball his way. One reason he played so close up was because he was one hell of athlete. He was gifted with good reflexes, hand speed and outstanding instincts! In short he was just a gifted talented ball player. I played next to Josh at shortstop and he knew that I had a very strong arm, good range and the ability to go into the hole for backup if needed. Josh was also a very good hitter and was very hard to strike out. He and I was very good friends and he was one of the best teammates I had the pleasure of playing beside! Even to this day when I think of him I think of that that big beautiful smile I saw on his face each and every day. There was nothing pretentious about Josh! He was the same guy every time you saw him, great sense of humor and just a around decent human being. Josh meant so much to me as a friend and teammate, rest in peace my friend.
Josh married Linda Thompson Downey; they have two sons Donnis (Teddy) and James (Papa), nine grandchildren and a host of greatgrandchildren. Josh will precede his sister Mary into KFAA Ring of Honor; she was inducted with the class of 2020. Mary states: I didn’t realize how many people remembered him since he passed away so long ago. Many of his childhood friends often tell me how great of a baseball player he was. When I see his friends they often remind me of their friendship and how much love they had for Josh. They would hug me and be excited just to have met one of Josh’s family members.
