Casey Downing Jr. grew up in Mobile, Alabama, attending McGill and Murphy High Schools. It was at Murphy that he took his first drafting class and found the foundation of a passion that would ultimately become his career. After high school, Casey joined the Navy, where he was stationed in Pensacola, Florida. He took courses at Pensacola Junior College and later transferred to the University of South Alabama, taking courses in commercial art. It was while attending a lecture given by sculptor and instructor Jeff Bayer from the University of Alabama Huntsville that Casey found his calling. He transferred to U.A.H., majoring in sculpture and minoring in art history and art education. After college Casey set up shop in his downtown Mobile studio where he has been creating and teaching since 1978.
- Greater Mobile Arts Award, Mobile Al. 2005
- University of Alabama in Huntsville Alumni of Achievement inducted 2002
- Space 301, Advisory Committee, Mobile, AL
- Individual Artist Fellowship Grant, Alabama State Council on the Arts, 1994
- Springhill College, Mobile, AL, Adjunct Professor, Sculpture
- Visual Arts Advisory Panel, Alabama State Council on the Arts, 1993
- Artist in Schools, Mobile County Public School System 1986
- Artist in Residence, City of Mobile Museum, 1984-85
- State of Alabama Visual Arts Advisory Panel, 1984-85
- Governor’s Art Award for Alabama, design and fabrication of, 1983
- Individual Artist Fellowship Grant, Alabama State Council on the Arts, 1983 and 19
- CETA Artist, Mobile Arts Council 1978
- 1971 Honorable discharge, USN
- 1976 Bachelor of Arts Sculpture/Art History, University of Alabama in Huntsville.
- 1976 Outstanding Art Major, Kappa Pi Art Honorary,
- 1976 Assistantship under Professor of Sculpture, 1973-76
- Jude Johnston (MFA, Sculpture, Yale Univ.)
- Jimmie Dawkins (MFA, Sculpture, Pratt Institute)