Dr. John Richard Downs

Col. John Richard "Rick" Downs, MD USAF (ret.), 64, of Castroville, TX unexpectedly passed away on August 9, 2022, at Medina Regional Hospital surrounded by friends and family. He was born on March 2, 1958, in Baltimore, MD, the first child of Walter Maybury Downs, Sr. and Rosemary Mach Downs.

Rick graduated from Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, MD. He then earned his Bachelor of Science at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, VA. Rick went on to complete medical school at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. He then began his Air Force career at Wilford Hall Medical Center (WHMC) in the Internal Medicine program. In 1987, he was selected Chief Resident; he supervised 58 physicians in training and conducted morning report for 6 days a week, only taking a week off to get married!

Rick stayed on as the Chief of Internal Medicine at the largest Air Force Medical Clinic. His research kept him in San Antonio, serving as the principal investigator of the AFCAPS Lipid Therapy Clinical Trials. His studies had a large and long-lasting impact on research in statin therapy with multiple publications in journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the European Heart Journal, and the American Journal of Cardiology.

Rick also served on the Pharmacoeconomic Center (PEC). During his time with the PEC, he led the drive to use evidence based medicine to produce safe, effective, and cost-effective therapeutic guidelines for the Department of Defense (DoD). He returned and served as the Internal Medicine Residency Program Director at WHMC from 1999 to 2004. He was known for an insistence on a high level of performance and a commitment to fairness to the medical residents.

After retiring from the military as a Colonel in 2003, Rick served veterans as a general internist in both primary care and hospital medicine at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. In addition to caring for patients, Ricks esteemed career was marked by contributions to the practice of medicine and healthcare for veterans at large. He conducted seminal research on cholesterol management, pharmacy benefits managements, and the development of national practice guidelines for the Veterans Administration and the DoD. As a result of his prowess and accomplishments, he garnered various leadership roles, including Chief of Academic Medicine, membership to the VA Evidence Based Practice Group, and chairs of the VA Field Advisory Committee for Dyslipidemia to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk.

Ricks exemplary service was also typified by his commitment to the education and mentorship of countless medical students, resident physicians, and fellow faculty members. He earned a reputation as a master of interpreting and appraising research. In recognition of his various contributions, Rick was awarded Professor of Medicine at University of Texas Health and Science Center at San Antonio. After his retirement from the VA in 2020, he still attended journal clubs and morning reports to continue the educational mission.

Rick was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Molly, and a proud father of Ricky and Callie. In his spare time, he enjoyed traveling with them on trips to the beach, Europe, and most recently Alaska as well as attending Spurs games together. In addition, Rick could be found at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo where he was a life member. He began volunteering with the Horse Show committee in 2007. For the month of February, the rodeo became his second home. He dedicated at minimum of 36 hours a year to make the rodeo the outstanding event that it was, helping facilitate events that raised money for youth scholarships. Each year he purchased tickets for family and friends to go to the Ranch Rodeo and watch the STAR Experience with his family in rodeo seats in the dirt. Rick also loved spending time at his ranch in DHanis, TX. He and his good friend, Butch, purchased the ranch in 2000 and it quickly became a constant source of chores and joy. Rick was constantly improving the land through conservation. Many memories were made there with family and friends, hunting, fishing, building bonfires, grilling, and much more.

Rick was preceded in death by his father Walter Downs, Sr. He is survived by his wife, Molly Downs; his children, Richard (Ricky) Downs and Callie Downs, PharmD (Justin Rightmer, JD); his mother, Rosemary Downs; his siblings, Walter Downs, MD (Lynn) and Julie Irlbeck (Ric); and many beloved nieces and nephews.

VISITATION

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17

6:00 PM

PORTER LORING WEST CHAPEL

MEMORIAL SERVICE

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17

7:00 PM

PORTER LORING WEST CHAPEL

Interment will take place in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at a later date. To view a recording of the services, please click here.In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association (AHA), a Veterans organization of your choice, or do something nice for a veteran in need. Please remember to take the time to make memories.

Arrangements with

PORTER LORING MORTUARY WEST

1710 WEST LOOP 1604 NORTH

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78251 - (210) 891-0000