Willie Downs
Multimedia Journalist
East Texas
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Willie Downs is a news reporter for KLTV 7. He grew up in Smith County and graduated from Whitehouse High School in 2006.
His junior year of high school, he joined the Texas Army National Guard, where he served six years, including one deployment to Iraq.
After high school, Willie worked for the family business, Atlas Building Systems, Inc., in Tyler, Texas, in various digital media, marketing and communications capacities.
In 2017, he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, Texas.
After an eight-year break in service from the military, in 2019, Willie reenlisted into the Texas Air Guard temporarily before enlisting into the Air Force Reserve as a Public Affairs Specialist. He graduated with honors from the Mass Communication Foundations course at the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Maryland in 2022.
Willie loves to spend time outdoors with his wife and three children. He is a seventh generation Texan, and a proud member of The Sons of the Republic of Texas.
Connect with Willie on social media @WillieDownsKLTV.
Have a story you would like Willie to share? Feel free to email him at william.downs@kltv.com.
Education
Updated: Mar. 8, 2023 at 3:23 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Stevens’ defense counsel argued to the judge for a reschedule as they have not been able to obtain certain information from Union Pacific.
Updated: Mar. 7, 2023 at 7:57 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
The CarFit program offers a twelve-point check by trained TxDOT technicians to ensure people's cars are properly adjusted for them. This includes things like seat and steering wheel positions as well as mirrors.
Updated: Mar. 6, 2023 at 11:38 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Monday night, the Longview ISD school board approved up to $60,000 to be used for the purchase of collaborative response graphics maps for all campuses. Superintendent James Wilcox says the decision is in response to the Uvalde shooting.
Updated: Mar. 6, 2023 at 5:31 PM CST
|By Willie Downs and KLTV Digital Media Staff
Greg Caton, owner of the Caton Property Group, said the new Brookshires location will be located on the West Loop 323 in Tyler, and will be a part of the 544-acre Bellwood Master Planned Community.
Updated: Mar. 3, 2023 at 4:04 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Yesterday afternoon, a tornado touched down in Kellyville Park off State Highway 49 in Marion County within precinct 2.
Updated: Mar. 2, 2023 at 11:15 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Seeing a glimpse of a giant hot dog driving down the road may bring a nostalgic feeling. For some, it's a first-time encounter.
Updated: Mar. 1, 2023 at 10:57 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
It happens to most of us at some point or another- renting a house or an apartment and running into a dispute with a landlord.
Updated: Feb. 27, 2023 at 10:26 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
County Judge Scott Lee says the county attorney and legal representation for the state said they do not have the authority to mandate a moratorium, which would temporarily prevent the construction.
Updated: Feb. 23, 2023 at 6:42 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
They took the first steps by donating the only photographic evidence of a lynching on the courthouse grounds to the Smith County Historical Society.
Updated: Feb. 22, 2023 at 10:27 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
As former president Jimmy Carter spends his last days at home in hospice care, the impact he has made on the world through his years of volunteer work is undeniable.
Updated: Feb. 21, 2023 at 8:53 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue in Tyler is hosting its second annual Second Line Parade and Mardi Gras Party tomorrow evening. The Revelers Hall Band will lead the New Orleans style parade from downtown Tyler to Stanley’s.
Updated: Feb. 21, 2023 at 7:29 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
One East Texas town is moving its city hall and police department into a larger space. It's a move officials say will better serve the community and improve security.
Updated: Feb. 16, 2023 at 11:08 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
The Overton City Council approved an ordinance to appoint a non-paid fire chief for the Overton Volunteer Fire Department. This comes only months after the city council voted to hire a paid, full-time fire chief in December.
Updated: Feb. 10, 2023 at 12:03 PM CST
|By Willie Downs and KLTV Digital Media Staff
“Despite his increased fame and notoriety, Patrick continues to serve as an example of character and leadership,” Mayor James Wansley said in his proclamation.
Updated: Feb. 9, 2023 at 10:33 AM CST
|By KLTV Digital Media Staff and Willie Downs
The incident happened around 9:10 a.m. as the truck was traveling toward Tyler.
Updated: Feb. 8, 2023 at 9:08 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
FAA and 4-H members from across East Texas began showing their best animals today in hopes of taking home the prize.
Updated: Feb. 7, 2023 at 7:50 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
In the wake of last week’s ice storm, many East Texans are left short on food after losing power for days.Many are forced to throw their entire fridge and freezer out, and with climbing food prices, that hurts a lot of people.
Updated: Feb. 7, 2023 at 10:18 AM CST
|By KLTV Digital Media Staff and Willie Downs
The father and son pleaded guilty in 2022 to charges stemming from accusations they stole from an elderly couple.
Updated: Feb. 6, 2023 at 10:56 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
“We love Patrick so we’re - the fact that everyone is representing him here in Whitehouse, and just making it known that this is where he’s from, this is his roots, and we’re very proud of how far he’s gotten,” says Ariana Avila with Whitehouse Family Dentistry.
Updated: Feb. 3, 2023 at 3:35 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
The state is expected to come to a decision on pursuing the death penalty for an Athens man accused in a hostage situation which left a man dead in December of 2021.
Updated: Feb. 2, 2023 at 4:54 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
While homes across East Texas are without power, some are finding creative ways to stay warm and happy.
Updated: Jan. 27, 2023 at 11:18 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Friday afternoon, Veterans of Foreign Wars honored veterans at the Hamptons Assisted Living facility in Tyler. Today marks fifty years since the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973 -- officially ending the Vietnam War and restoring peace in that country.
Updated: Jan. 20, 2023 at 8:49 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Population growth in East Texas is also leading to growth from a local powerline company.
Updated: Jan. 19, 2023 at 10:11 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
A giant circus tent is up in the parking lot of Broadway Square Mall in Tyler. Cirque Italia will hold their first opening performance tonight at 7:30.
Updated: Jan. 17, 2023 at 11:16 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Tyler Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol hosted the promotions ceremony, where congressman Nathaniel Moran made presentations to three cadets. The Civil Air Patrol is made up of young boys and girls between the ages 12 and 18. The CAP cadet program provides training and skills in discipline, leadership, character development, aerospace education, and emergency services.
Updated: Jan. 13, 2023 at 11:04 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
A non-profit nature retreat in East Texas is expanding, allowing them to serve more families with children affected by autism.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2023 at 9:41 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Sheri Lee, president of Visit Tyler, shares how this facility is going to impact the City of Tyler.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2023 at 4:38 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Tonight the Longview ISD board of trustees approved the purchase of sensory-friendly playground equipment.
Updated: Jan. 10, 2023 at 6:43 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
One of the state's newest crime fighting divisions is based in East Texas. From gas pump skimmers to credit card fraud, the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center in Tyler is already hitting a major milestone.
Updated: Jan. 6, 2023 at 7:00 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
An East Texas country music artist is celebrating seven consecutive years of saying the Pledge of Allegiance, without missing a single day.
Updated: Jan. 5, 2023 at 10:51 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
People in Gilmer gathered to remember Kelly Dae Wilson, who vanished 31 years ago tonight.
Updated: Jan. 4, 2023 at 10:00 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Two women are shaking things up by bringing their passion for Latin food to East Texas.
Updated: Dec. 28, 2022 at 6:00 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
The City of Jacksonville is revamping their trash collection services as part of a strategic map adopted by the city a year ago.
Updated: Dec. 27, 2022 at 8:14 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Some homes, businesses and organizations in East Texas are experiencing plumbing nightmares as temperatures begin to rise.
Updated: Dec. 23, 2022 at 7:14 AM CST
|By Willie Downs and Christian Terry
Four families have been displaced after a fire at a home in the 700 block of Fannin Avenue in Tyler. It has placed many people in a difficult situation just before Christmas, but there is “a bit of happiness to this bad situation”...firefighters saved an engagement ring for a proposal that was meant to happen on Christmas day.
Updated: Dec. 21, 2022 at 2:35 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Dory with Dory’s Gardens in Tyler shares what people can do to protect their plants from the cold weather. She demonstrates what she does with the plants in her garden.
Updated: Dec. 15, 2022 at 4:33 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Kirk Kirkpatrick of Flint is about to turn 92 years old, and he is a real-life toymaker in East Texas. He goes to his workshop multiple times a day and has made 100 wood toys over the last 20 years.
Updated: Dec. 14, 2022 at 11:01 PM CST
|By Willie Downs and Christian Terry
Storms that tracked across North Texas on Nov. 4 resulted in seven tornadoes, five of which impacted timberland in Bowie, Cass, Henderson, Morris and Red River counties, according to a Texas A&M Forest Service assessment of the damage. One person died as a result of the storm in Morris County.
Updated: Dec. 9, 2022 at 3:57 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
What started out as a small apartment at the back of the restaurant, has now been transformed into an upscale bar unlike anything in East Texas.
Updated: Dec. 7, 2022 at 11:21 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Smith County Habitat for Humanity is building a new office building using the floorplan on one of their four bedroom homes. Without closets, it gives them four offices.
Updated: Dec. 7, 2022 at 6:36 PM CST
|By Willie Downs and Christian Terry
Country music star and Jacksonville native, Neal McCoy, shares his reaction to a long-running coach of NBC’s The Voice, endorsing him to fill his seat for the next season.
Updated: Dec. 5, 2022 at 10:54 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Sunshine Pediatric PPECC is a nursing facilitiy for medically-complex kids during the day. It offers skilled nursing as well as physical, speech and occupational therapy along with education.
Updated: Dec. 2, 2022 at 11:11 AM CST
|By Willie Downs and Christian Terry
Texas Baptist Men’s chainsaw crews continue to serve East Texas weeks after tornadoes devastated the area.
Updated: Dec. 1, 2022 at 5:22 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
A large tree died in the front lawn of a home near downtown Tyler, and the homeowner opted to get creative.
Updated: Nov. 29, 2022 at 5:58 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
KLTV 7′s Willie Downs spoke with nurses at UT Health about how the NICU is impacting families here in East Texas.
Updated: Nov. 29, 2022 at 11:48 AM CST
|By Willie Downs and Christian Terry
Kennedy Watkins made the plea in the courtroom of Judge Jack Skeen Jr. Tuesday. Skeen gave Watkins eight years of deferred adjudication, but withheld a finding of guilty for Watkins.
Updated: Nov. 29, 2022 at 11:02 AM CST
|By Willie Downs and Christian Terry
Ty Golightly pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery in the courtroom of Judge Jack Skeen Jr. Tuesday. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the crime.
Updated: Nov. 28, 2022 at 10:30 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
As people ramp up shopping for the holidays, criminals are ready to take advantage of those who let their guards down.
Updated: Nov. 23, 2022 at 7:43 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Some drivers are frustrated after work on an East Texas roadway has led to damage on their vehicles.
Updated: Nov. 22, 2022 at 4:22 PM CST
|By Willie Downs
Green acres Baptist Church in Tyler is preparing for its second annual Christmas tree lighting event. Over the last week, a crew of a dozen church staff members have installed a 50-foot artificial Christmas tree.
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