Kenny Houston Endowed Scholarship Fund - Prairie View A&M University

Congratulations, PVAMU Alumnus Kenny Houston's induction into the 2025 Houston Sports Hall of Fame!
Watch the video to see how the Houstons received the news!!

UPDATED to include service arrangements.

May 31, 2024, 10:15 a.m.
Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, Shelter #3, San Antonio, TX


Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and classmates of Captain William "Bill" Downey '50. Bill transitioned from "Earth to Glory" on Friday, May 3.

Bill was a long-time member and supporter of PVAMU Sports Hall of Fame and chaired the Nomination Committee.

Bill was inducted into the PV SHOF in 1998 for football.

Notably, he was one of the "Woolfolk Boys", a history major and a major contributor to George Woolfolk's book, "The History of Prairie View...".

Bill was an avid supporter of the Athletics program and most prominently as a member of the PVAMU Sports Hall of Fame. From the date of its inception in the 90s, Bill diligently worked to induct PV athletes from the 1930s through the 1980s. His knowledge of PVAMU championship teams and individuals is unmatched.

Bill chaired the Nomination Committee and thoroughly researched every nominee and presented a slate to our Executive Committee for presentations and votes. He single-handedly nominated every 1930-1960 championship sport teams and deserving individuals.

Each July, Bill traveled from Seattle to vacation in Texas spending time with family and then to Prairie View to meet with his Nomination Committee to review and research the many nominations that were submitted - sometimes as many as 25. He strictly adhered to the Nomination rules, eliminating submissions received late, the wrong color ink, or lack of requested information.

Every person who has been inducted into the the PV Sports Hall of Fame deserved to be in because their submission passed what I referred to as "Bill's Test". He was a stickler for following the rules set in the Bylaws. There were no short-cuts - even if you clearly deserved to be inducted. A minute late beyond the deadline meant that you tried again next year.

During the time that Dr. George Woolfolk was writing his book on the history of PVAMU, Bill researched on behalf. At that time, Bill was an military officer and was very fair skinned with what appeared to be a light shade of blue eyes. Woolfolk frequently sent him to TAMU's campus for research. Bill wore his officer uniform and regalia to the campus library. He had two things working for him - he was a ranking officer and no one was certain of his ethnicity.

His research for Woolfolk's book was invaluable. I mentioned to Bill one time that I couldn't find a copy of Woolfolk's book to purchase. Bill sent me a spare that he happened to have.

Bill singlehandedly nominated, advocated, campaigned and was successful in securing the induction of Hilton Smith to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and MLB HOF and Zelmo Beatty to the Texas Sports HOF, 2014 National Collegiate HOF, and the 2016 Naismith Memorial Basketball HOF. He nominated and campaigned to deliver inductions for PV athletes in several regional, conference, and the Black College HOFs.

He always attended those events proudly representing PVAMU alumni. When Zelmo Beatty was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, he MADE me attend. When Beatty was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball HOF, he went to campus to get memorabilia that he could present to the family on behalf of the University and it's alumni.

I hadn't talked with Bill in the past few years. He had been ill for a while. I missed our talks and will miss him even more now.

William Downey was determined to preserve the University's Sports history. Much of what I know about PVAMU Sports, I learned from Bill.

Service arrangement details will be provided soon.

Mr. Billie Gene Bundage - View Obituary & Service Information Share Memories and Support the Family.

We are excited to welcome the Otis Taylor, Jr. Family as our special guests for !
More to come on our EXCLUSIVE partnership with the family and plans to celebrate OT's PVAMU Legacy!

#17 #1963 #1964

Today... Black College Football Hall of Fame ... Coach William "Billy" Nicks is one of seven inductees to be enshrined in the ’s Class of 2022.

William “Billy” Nicks coached the Prairie View A&M Panther Athletics football team for 17 years. During his stint, the Panthers won 8 The Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and 5 Black College National Championships in 1953, 1954, 1958, 1963, and 1964. Coach Nicks' career record at was 127-39-8. Prairie View named its athletic complex after him in 1988.

Nicks Named to the Class of 2022 Black College Hall of Fame - Prairie View A&M University Athletics ATLANTA, Ga. – The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced its 13th Class of 2022. Former Prairie View A&M University head football coach William J. "Billy" Nicks was amongst the class to be honored.