"Our bulletin this month is respectfully dedicated to Robinson F. Downey, of the class of 1867, one of the foremost men in the service of his Alma Mater and community. He was born May 18, 1849, a son of Robinson W. and Catherine Inghram Downey.

He entered Waynesburg College in the early 60's and graduated Valedictorian of his class. Later he secured an A.M. degree. He was a college chum and life-long friend of Senator A. B. Cummins, who although unable at the time to finish his work for a degree was later, because of his great friendship for Mr. Downey, added to the class of 1867. In the stern days during and immediately following the war it was most difficult for these two young men to secure sufficient funds for their education and both were fond of telling how they even went barefoot to the college in order to maintain themselves. We pause to remark that young men of the present might well hesitate before saying that college education is an impossibility for them. After graduation Mr. Downey studied law and was admitted to the bar December 19, 1870. He practiced law continuously from that date until shortly before the time of his death, 53 years later. He was recognized as one of the greatest criminal lawyers in the state of Pennsylvania. In addition to his practice before the bar he was one of the foremost community workers. He founded both the Citizens National Bank and the Union Deposit & Trust Company and was for many years president of the latter institution. He was also long a member of the Waynesburg School Board. He held membership in the Chevy Chase Club and the Archaeological Society. In 1902 he married Jean Wilson, of the class of 1879, who was for several years professor of French and German in Waynesburg College, and who in addition to receiving an A. M. degree from this institution, was a student in Berlin University, Germany, and Sorbonne University, France.

In 1885 he was elected member of the Board of Trust, Waynesburg College, and continued in that office until the union of the churches in 1905, at which time he was elected member of the Board of Trustees. This office he held until his death, being for thirty-eight years one of the main guides of the destinies of the institution. It is probably not too much to say that he was that in point of interest in the affairs of the college he had no superior. For instance, after his death it came to light that he was probably the only alumnus to keep an unbroken record of the results of the Philo and Union contests. Also among his papers there was recently found almost an unbroken collection of commencement programs of this institution, of which we had stood very much in need and which were at once donated by Mrs. Downey to the college. In fact he followed all the events in and about the college with the keenest interest, and had certain remarkable plans for the future of this institution which will later mature. With true obedience to scriptural injunction he was quiet and unobtrusive in his service toward his Alma Mater and only his intimate friends knew the depth of his feelings.

Mr. Downey spent several years in Washington, D. C., where he was very popular. During his illness Mrs. Coolidge sent him beautiful flowers from the White House.

He died December 19, 1923 in the 75th year of his life. He rests in Green Mount cemetery. Waynesburg College proudly dedicates this issue of the bulletin to his memory."