Downey is credited with expanding the global reach, knowledge and influence of Neeley by developing a summer program that sent faculty to Germany, changing the way faculty viewed students and education.
April 21, 2023
Howard Kirk Downey, 80, passed away April 3, 2023. He served 13 years as dean for the TCU Neeley School of Business from 1986 to 1999, and was a professor of management at TCU from 1983 to 2000 before retiring.
Downey’s family plans to hold a private memorial online. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Downey is survived by his wife, Linda; his daughter, Meghan and her partner, Scott O’Neill; and Meghan’s child, Evan.
In addition to serving as the TCU Neeley dean, Downey was also a professor of management from 1983 to 2000. Prior to retiring from TCU, he was named Professor Emeritus of Management.
During the TCU 150th anniversary event recognizing the Neeley School of Business: Past, Present and Future, featured lecturer Professor Bill Moncrief recalled Downey’s initiative to expand the global reach, knowledge and influence of faculty.
“Kirk decided we have to internationalize our faculty after the fall of the [Berlin] Wall [in Germany]. The world is changing,” Moncrief said.
Each summer, Downey sent three faculty to Germany and almost everybody in the faculty got to go on this trip. That initiative changed the way faculty viewed students, education and much more, said Moncrief.
In addition, Moncrief credited Downey with starting TCU Neeley’s Executive Education, which has become a hallmark program for the business school.
Downey’s family said his hobbies included learning about the world, expertly completing the Times Sunday crossword, cooking, the pursuit of grilling the perfect hamburger, historical biographies, rescuing dogs, computer tinkering, skiing, technology gadgets in all forms, playing racquetball, and trivia domination.
To view Downey’s obituary and leave a written tribute, click here.
