ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks, dˈaʊni spˈɑːnsɚd ðə bˈɪl ðæt kɹiːˈeɪɾᵻd ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv waɪˈoʊmɪŋ ænd bɪkˌeɪm nˈoʊn æz "ðə fˈɑːðɚɹ ʌvðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv waɪˈoʊmɪŋ".
In 1886, Downey sponsored the bill that created the University of Wyoming and became known as "The Father of the University of Wyoming".