You asked, here it is.

Downing is acknowledged as one of the leading architects in Texas in preservation/restoration. He is remembered for his deep fascination with what he considered the “elegant intersection of design with artisan craftsmanship” of early Texas architecture. His award-winning works include structures at Old City Park in Dallas and the innovative Meadows Foundation 20 acre preservation/restoration project, the Wilson and Beilharz Blocks, the Meadows Foundation Headquarters building, restoration of the adjoining historic park, and many structures included in the original plan. Equally renowned was his creation of an 1830’s farmstead for industrialist, Pete Gifford, CEO, Gifford Hill. That property, called Wolf Run, located in North Texas, was later given to a Dallas private school to serve as an educational retreat.

In recent years, Downing led the restoration of the historic chapel built on the Kenedy Ranch in South Texas for Sarita Kenedy. He occasionally designed period and contemporary homes for both city and country life.

He is survived by spouse, Victoria Smith Downing; daughter, Nan Elizabeth Downing; son, Michael Lindsay Downing and wife Alexandra; grandson, Archer “Archie” Lindsey Downing; sisters, Joy Sue Moutos and husband Vas, and La Ruth Scruggs and husband Larry; nieces: Sheila Holt and husband Steve, Mary Ann Murphy and husband Joe, and Susan Kaye Bailey and husband Ken; nephew, Jimmy Moutos; grandnieces, Carrie Taylor and Allyson Holt; and the Loucille and Kenneth Smith families.

Services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb 4, 2012, at Cox Chapel, Highland Park United Methodist Church. The Rev. Terry P. Jones will officiate and Curtis Meadows, former president of the Meadows Foundation, will deliver the eulogy. Tributes may be made to the Texas Tech College of Architecture, c/o Andrew Vernooy, Dean of Architecture, College of Architecture, 18th and Flint Avenues, P.O. Box 42091, Lubbock, TX 79409.

The Highland Park girls basketball team will take on Rockwall-Heath at 7:30 tonight in its final home game of the season.

Seniors Libby Ethington, Amanda Goodwin, Sydney McDaniel, Savanna Taylor, and Sarah Werner will be honored prior to the game.

The Lady Scots (20-7, 8-4) are in a three-way tie for second place in the District 10-4A standings with McKinney North and Wylie. McKinney is just one game behind those three teams. Rockwall has already wrapped up the district title, so one of those four teams in the log jam for second place will not make the playoffs.

Highland Park wraps up the regular season on Tuesday at McKinney.

Future leaders of America, clinging to AutoCorrect on their phones.

The Scots have tentatively set their 2012 schedule. (Staff photo: Chris McGathey)

Every two years, when the University Interscholastic League unveils its realignment and reclassification of districts, tons of football coaches gather at Birdiville ISD Fine Arts/Athletics Complex the morning the new districts for the next two years are released.

Once that happens, coaches from the new districts meet and set their district football schedules. Coaches also finalize their non-district schedules, once they know how many district games they’ll have. It’s always a madhouse. And it’s always a blast.

This morning, I got to go out and cover that very event, which is always one of my favorite things to do. As Dan posted earlier, Highland Park found out which teams will be in its new district for football, basketball, baseball and several other sports.

We already knew Highland Park’s football team opens next season against Aledo in the Tom Landry Classic. The rest of the schedule has the Scots hosting Tulsa Northeast Oklahoma Association of Home Schools and going to Sherman to round out non-district play. Highland Park will then have a bye week before opening District 10-4A play at home against Forney. The Scots will then play back-to-back road games at North Forney and Mesquite Poteet. Highland Park then hosts West Mesquite, travels to Carrollton Creekview, and then hosts Carrollton Newman Smith and Terrell to close out the regular season.

The non-district schedule will be the same in 2013, with the exception of Sherman coming to Highlander Stadium. The District 10-4A schedule will be the same with the home teams reversed from the 2012 schedule.

This spring, ESPN plans to run a TV feature about the Norway native’s story, which was reported last April in The Dallas Morning News. (This DMN post links to a trailer and the original writeup.) And rest assured, Korra’s still running her heart out.

Just … wow.

Nick Rose flashes the Hook ’em Horns with his mother, Kathy, by his side during National Signing Day at Highland Park High School. Rose was one of seven Highland Park athletes who signed letters of intent. The other six were Kelsey Bass (Oklahoma State), Megan Gittins (Princeton), Parker Kennedy (Fort Lewis), Tanner Stone (Duke), Taylor Sorrels (Florida Atlantic), and Tyler Rentfro (McMurry).