A member of the school's inaugural basketball team in 1907, Richard Downey led the team in scoring with six points in its 22-11 win over Virginia in the school's first game on Feb. 9, 1907, and led the team in overall scoring that season. Downey spent the remainder of his career as a reserve guard.

Downey was a practicing attorney for many years in the Washington area but his further whereabouts remain unknown.