IN MEMORY OF OUR DEAR FRIEND AND CLASSMATE
ATOKA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1972
DAVID EARLE DOWNING
DECEMBER 26, 1953 ~ OCTOBER 26, 2007
David died Friday, October 26, 2007 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City Oklahoma.
Cause of death: Complications from surgery
Article from the Atoka County Times Newspaper
dated Wednesday October 31, 2007 (a weekly paper)
FAREWELL TO THE ATOKA WAMPUS CATS #1 FAN
David Downing passed from this life on Friday, October 26 at the age of 53 and will be remembered fondly by the Atoka Football enthusuasts from the past 30 years. Downing holds the all time title or the #1 Fan of the Atoka Cats and attended 303 games in a row before health problems retired him from the sidelines earlier this fall.
Downings unbroken string of game attendance stretched back 30 years to September 1977 at Eufaula, OK. He walked the sidelines and cheered on an entire generation of Wampus Cat football players and coaches.
Some sons of those who played ball in Downings first years of watching Cats football are now playing on the field.
"Dave was very consistant. It didnt matter what the weather was like or how far we had to go, Dave was going to be there"...said Brian Walker, head coach of the Wampus Cats until this past year. "I always enjoyed him being around. I remember him from when I was a player, and was glad to have him cheering for us when I was coaching."
Even though Downing had a true love of the game of football, he never played for the Cats. In high school, he watched his games from the band section, where he played bass drum for the Pride of Atoka Band for three years, before his graduation from Atoka High School in 1972. "That band was my pride and joy," said Downing.
Downing made as many games as he could through the 1970's but he had a feeling the Cats were marked for greatness. After the Eufaula game which was the second game of Atoka's 1977 season, he was hooked for life. "That was a great team. The coach was Ron Lewis," said Downing. The Cats had a 12-1 record that season and was beat in the semi-finals by Seminole.
"He was a self-made fan," said Diane Billings of her brother, reguarding his love of Wampus Cat Football.
Downing had a remarkable talent for remembering facts and figures, and recalled a large number of Atoka's season records and details of the games. For many years back he could remember the exact order of events as they happened, as well as their dates and recall them with amazing accuracy.
In following the Wampus Cats on the road through the years, Downing at first had to use the map, but after 29 years he had all the routes memorized. He planned each Friday night trip with dinner in mind and had a favorite restaurant on each route.
"One benefit of of my travels, is I have seen the beautiful state of Oklahoma and met all the interesting people," Downing said last year on the occasion of his 300th game in a row, the season's finish against Coalgate. "People need to go out and look at all there is to see," he encouraged.
"I owe all my success in life to the good Lord first and foremost," said Downing last fall. "And because of my parents and my sister I got to be where I am today."
Downing was the son of the late Victor Downing (1922-2000) and Vernia Ann (Baughman) Downing (1926-1996), who were married 50 years and were among Atoka's leading citizens. They attended the First United Methodist Church, where David had been a lifelong member.
David's younger brother Darrell, lives in Noble, Oklahoma with his family and is the Assistant Chief of Police at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
David lived with his sister, Diane Billings, who is a Special Education teacher at McAlister, Oklahoma High School, and their home at 204 W. 3rd Street in Atoka, Ok. was built in 1906 turns 101 this year.
David's grandparents, Ray O. and Ida E. (Cruise) Downing, bought the home in 1913 and lived there until they died. David's parents restored the old house beginning in 1979, and moved in from down the street in January 1980. It was Victor Downing's 58th birthday and he was born in that house.
David had a wish for Atoka High School, about which he felt strongly: "We need a new football stadium in the worst way. If Atoka really wants a new football stadium, they need to build one. It would be one of the biggest joys of my life."
Downing said he wished to tell all Wampus Cats and their fans never to give up, and to keep fighting and keep the faith.
-------------------------------------------------
Services were Monday October 29, 2007 at 2:00pm for David Earle Downing at the Brown's Funeral Chapel in Atoka, OK.
Officiating was Rev. David Mingus
Interment: Westview Cemetery ~ Atoka, OK.
Casketbearers: Brian Walker, Cliffored Brown, Jim Briggs, Mike Elliott, Ricky Chase, Jim Turner
Honorary Casketbearers: Brent Daniel, Don Barnard, Charles McKee, Snake Norman, Ronnie Faulkenberry, Donnie Burke
ATOKA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1972
DAVID EARLE DOWNING
DECEMBER 26, 1953 ~ OCTOBER 26, 2007
David died Friday, October 26, 2007 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City Oklahoma.
Cause of death: Complications from surgery
Article from the Atoka County Times Newspaper
dated Wednesday October 31, 2007 (a weekly paper)
FAREWELL TO THE ATOKA WAMPUS CATS #1 FAN
David Downing passed from this life on Friday, October 26 at the age of 53 and will be remembered fondly by the Atoka Football enthusuasts from the past 30 years. Downing holds the all time title or the #1 Fan of the Atoka Cats and attended 303 games in a row before health problems retired him from the sidelines earlier this fall.
Downings unbroken string of game attendance stretched back 30 years to September 1977 at Eufaula, OK. He walked the sidelines and cheered on an entire generation of Wampus Cat football players and coaches.
Some sons of those who played ball in Downings first years of watching Cats football are now playing on the field.
"Dave was very consistant. It didnt matter what the weather was like or how far we had to go, Dave was going to be there"...said Brian Walker, head coach of the Wampus Cats until this past year. "I always enjoyed him being around. I remember him from when I was a player, and was glad to have him cheering for us when I was coaching."
Even though Downing had a true love of the game of football, he never played for the Cats. In high school, he watched his games from the band section, where he played bass drum for the Pride of Atoka Band for three years, before his graduation from Atoka High School in 1972. "That band was my pride and joy," said Downing.
Downing made as many games as he could through the 1970's but he had a feeling the Cats were marked for greatness. After the Eufaula game which was the second game of Atoka's 1977 season, he was hooked for life. "That was a great team. The coach was Ron Lewis," said Downing. The Cats had a 12-1 record that season and was beat in the semi-finals by Seminole.
"He was a self-made fan," said Diane Billings of her brother, reguarding his love of Wampus Cat Football.
Downing had a remarkable talent for remembering facts and figures, and recalled a large number of Atoka's season records and details of the games. For many years back he could remember the exact order of events as they happened, as well as their dates and recall them with amazing accuracy.
In following the Wampus Cats on the road through the years, Downing at first had to use the map, but after 29 years he had all the routes memorized. He planned each Friday night trip with dinner in mind and had a favorite restaurant on each route.
"One benefit of of my travels, is I have seen the beautiful state of Oklahoma and met all the interesting people," Downing said last year on the occasion of his 300th game in a row, the season's finish against Coalgate. "People need to go out and look at all there is to see," he encouraged.
"I owe all my success in life to the good Lord first and foremost," said Downing last fall. "And because of my parents and my sister I got to be where I am today."
Downing was the son of the late Victor Downing (1922-2000) and Vernia Ann (Baughman) Downing (1926-1996), who were married 50 years and were among Atoka's leading citizens. They attended the First United Methodist Church, where David had been a lifelong member.
David's younger brother Darrell, lives in Noble, Oklahoma with his family and is the Assistant Chief of Police at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
David lived with his sister, Diane Billings, who is a Special Education teacher at McAlister, Oklahoma High School, and their home at 204 W. 3rd Street in Atoka, Ok. was built in 1906 turns 101 this year.
David's grandparents, Ray O. and Ida E. (Cruise) Downing, bought the home in 1913 and lived there until they died. David's parents restored the old house beginning in 1979, and moved in from down the street in January 1980. It was Victor Downing's 58th birthday and he was born in that house.
David had a wish for Atoka High School, about which he felt strongly: "We need a new football stadium in the worst way. If Atoka really wants a new football stadium, they need to build one. It would be one of the biggest joys of my life."
Downing said he wished to tell all Wampus Cats and their fans never to give up, and to keep fighting and keep the faith.
-------------------------------------------------
Services were Monday October 29, 2007 at 2:00pm for David Earle Downing at the Brown's Funeral Chapel in Atoka, OK.
Officiating was Rev. David Mingus
Interment: Westview Cemetery ~ Atoka, OK.
Casketbearers: Brian Walker, Cliffored Brown, Jim Briggs, Mike Elliott, Ricky Chase, Jim Turner
Honorary Casketbearers: Brent Daniel, Don Barnard, Charles McKee, Snake Norman, Ronnie Faulkenberry, Donnie Burke
IN MEMORY OF OUR DEAR FRIEND AND CLASSMATE
ATOKA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1972
DAVID EARLE DOWNING
DECEMBER 26, 1953 ~ OCTOBER 26, 2007
David died Friday, October 26, 2007 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City Oklahoma.
Cause of death: Complications from surgery
Article from the Atoka County Times Newspaper
dated Wednesday October 31, 2007 (a weekly paper)
FAREWELL TO THE ATOKA WAMPUS CATS #1 FAN
David Downing passed from this life on Friday, October 26 at the age of 53 and will be remembered fondly by the Atoka Football enthusuasts from the past 30 years. Downing holds the all time title or the #1 Fan of the Atoka Cats and attended 303 games in a row before health problems retired him from the sidelines earlier this fall.
Downings unbroken string of game attendance stretched back 30 years to September 1977 at Eufaula, OK. He walked the sidelines and cheered on an entire generation of Wampus Cat football players and coaches.
Some sons of those who played ball in Downings first years of watching Cats football are now playing on the field.
"Dave was very consistant. It didnt matter what the weather was like or how far we had to go, Dave was going to be there"...said Brian Walker, head coach of the Wampus Cats until this past year. "I always enjoyed him being around. I remember him from when I was a player, and was glad to have him cheering for us when I was coaching."
Even though Downing had a true love of the game of football, he never played for the Cats. In high school, he watched his games from the band section, where he played bass drum for the Pride of Atoka Band for three years, before his graduation from Atoka High School in 1972. "That band was my pride and joy," said Downing.
Downing made as many games as he could through the 1970's but he had a feeling the Cats were marked for greatness. After the Eufaula game which was the second game of Atoka's 1977 season, he was hooked for life. "That was a great team. The coach was Ron Lewis," said Downing. The Cats had a 12-1 record that season and was beat in the semi-finals by Seminole.
"He was a self-made fan," said Diane Billings of her brother, reguarding his love of Wampus Cat Football.
Downing had a remarkable talent for remembering facts and figures, and recalled a large number of Atoka's season records and details of the games. For many years back he could remember the exact order of events as they happened, as well as their dates and recall them with amazing accuracy.
In following the Wampus Cats on the road through the years, Downing at first had to use the map, but after 29 years he had all the routes memorized. He planned each Friday night trip with dinner in mind and had a favorite restaurant on each route.
"One benefit of of my travels, is I have seen the beautiful state of Oklahoma and met all the interesting people," Downing said last year on the occasion of his 300th game in a row, the season's finish against Coalgate. "People need to go out and look at all there is to see," he encouraged.
"I owe all my success in life to the good Lord first and foremost," said Downing last fall. "And because of my parents and my sister I got to be where I am today."
Downing was the son of the late Victor Downing (1922-2000) and Vernia Ann (Baughman) Downing (1926-1996), who were married 50 years and were among Atoka's leading citizens. They attended the First United Methodist Church, where David had been a lifelong member.
David's younger brother Darrell, lives in Noble, Oklahoma with his family and is the Assistant Chief of Police at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
David lived with his sister, Diane Billings, who is a Special Education teacher at McAlister, Oklahoma High School, and their home at 204 W. 3rd Street in Atoka, Ok. was built in 1906 turns 101 this year.
David's grandparents, Ray O. and Ida E. (Cruise) Downing, bought the home in 1913 and lived there until they died. David's parents restored the old house beginning in 1979, and moved in from down the street in January 1980. It was Victor Downing's 58th birthday and he was born in that house.
David had a wish for Atoka High School, about which he felt strongly: "We need a new football stadium in the worst way. If Atoka really wants a new football stadium, they need to build one. It would be one of the biggest joys of my life."
Downing said he wished to tell all Wampus Cats and their fans never to give up, and to keep fighting and keep the faith.
-------------------------------------------------
Services were Monday October 29, 2007 at 2:00pm for David Earle Downing at the Brown's Funeral Chapel in Atoka, OK.
Officiating was Rev. David Mingus
Interment: Westview Cemetery ~ Atoka, OK.
Casketbearers: Brian Walker, Cliffored Brown, Jim Briggs, Mike Elliott, Ricky Chase, Jim Turner
Honorary Casketbearers: Brent Daniel, Don Barnard, Charles McKee, Snake Norman, Ronnie Faulkenberry, Donnie Burke
ATOKA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1972
DAVID EARLE DOWNING
DECEMBER 26, 1953 ~ OCTOBER 26, 2007
David died Friday, October 26, 2007 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City Oklahoma.
Cause of death: Complications from surgery
Article from the Atoka County Times Newspaper
dated Wednesday October 31, 2007 (a weekly paper)
FAREWELL TO THE ATOKA WAMPUS CATS #1 FAN
David Downing passed from this life on Friday, October 26 at the age of 53 and will be remembered fondly by the Atoka Football enthusuasts from the past 30 years. Downing holds the all time title or the #1 Fan of the Atoka Cats and attended 303 games in a row before health problems retired him from the sidelines earlier this fall.
Downings unbroken string of game attendance stretched back 30 years to September 1977 at Eufaula, OK. He walked the sidelines and cheered on an entire generation of Wampus Cat football players and coaches.
Some sons of those who played ball in Downings first years of watching Cats football are now playing on the field.
"Dave was very consistant. It didnt matter what the weather was like or how far we had to go, Dave was going to be there"...said Brian Walker, head coach of the Wampus Cats until this past year. "I always enjoyed him being around. I remember him from when I was a player, and was glad to have him cheering for us when I was coaching."
Even though Downing had a true love of the game of football, he never played for the Cats. In high school, he watched his games from the band section, where he played bass drum for the Pride of Atoka Band for three years, before his graduation from Atoka High School in 1972. "That band was my pride and joy," said Downing.
Downing made as many games as he could through the 1970's but he had a feeling the Cats were marked for greatness. After the Eufaula game which was the second game of Atoka's 1977 season, he was hooked for life. "That was a great team. The coach was Ron Lewis," said Downing. The Cats had a 12-1 record that season and was beat in the semi-finals by Seminole.
"He was a self-made fan," said Diane Billings of her brother, reguarding his love of Wampus Cat Football.
Downing had a remarkable talent for remembering facts and figures, and recalled a large number of Atoka's season records and details of the games. For many years back he could remember the exact order of events as they happened, as well as their dates and recall them with amazing accuracy.
In following the Wampus Cats on the road through the years, Downing at first had to use the map, but after 29 years he had all the routes memorized. He planned each Friday night trip with dinner in mind and had a favorite restaurant on each route.
"One benefit of of my travels, is I have seen the beautiful state of Oklahoma and met all the interesting people," Downing said last year on the occasion of his 300th game in a row, the season's finish against Coalgate. "People need to go out and look at all there is to see," he encouraged.
"I owe all my success in life to the good Lord first and foremost," said Downing last fall. "And because of my parents and my sister I got to be where I am today."
Downing was the son of the late Victor Downing (1922-2000) and Vernia Ann (Baughman) Downing (1926-1996), who were married 50 years and were among Atoka's leading citizens. They attended the First United Methodist Church, where David had been a lifelong member.
David's younger brother Darrell, lives in Noble, Oklahoma with his family and is the Assistant Chief of Police at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
David lived with his sister, Diane Billings, who is a Special Education teacher at McAlister, Oklahoma High School, and their home at 204 W. 3rd Street in Atoka, Ok. was built in 1906 turns 101 this year.
David's grandparents, Ray O. and Ida E. (Cruise) Downing, bought the home in 1913 and lived there until they died. David's parents restored the old house beginning in 1979, and moved in from down the street in January 1980. It was Victor Downing's 58th birthday and he was born in that house.
David had a wish for Atoka High School, about which he felt strongly: "We need a new football stadium in the worst way. If Atoka really wants a new football stadium, they need to build one. It would be one of the biggest joys of my life."
Downing said he wished to tell all Wampus Cats and their fans never to give up, and to keep fighting and keep the faith.
-------------------------------------------------
Services were Monday October 29, 2007 at 2:00pm for David Earle Downing at the Brown's Funeral Chapel in Atoka, OK.
Officiating was Rev. David Mingus
Interment: Westview Cemetery ~ Atoka, OK.
Casketbearers: Brian Walker, Cliffored Brown, Jim Briggs, Mike Elliott, Ricky Chase, Jim Turner
Honorary Casketbearers: Brent Daniel, Don Barnard, Charles McKee, Snake Norman, Ronnie Faulkenberry, Donnie Burke
