Tampa Bay Famous Names: Who was Bruce B. Downs?
Each day thousands of New Tampa Area residents travel Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Radio listeners hear his name dozens of times a week either in traffic reports or in commercials advertising businesses located on his street.
But the question remains, who is this man? Who is Bruce B. Downs?
According to a Tampa Bay Times Article, Downs was a public servant who loved “roads”. Downs was with the Florida Transportation Department for almost 30 years before working as Hillsborough County’s deputy public works administrator.
One newspaper, in 1983, said that Downs had the most stressful job in the county. The next day, at age 53, Downs dropped dead of a massive heart attack.
Professionally, Downs was well respected. Three years after his death, Hillsborough County renamed 30th Street after Bruce B. Downs.
He and his wife Patsy were each other’s high school sweethearts. She said that Downs would have been shocked and “very humble” to know that the road was named for him.
(Photo by Fester/BBGI)
So what does the B stand for?
Bruce B. Downs’ famous middle initial stands for Barkley! Now you know!
[Source: Tampa Bay Times]
MJ's Favorite Steakhouses In Tampa Bay
Do you have the same taste in restaurants as MJ? Let’s take a look at MJ’s favorite steakhouses in Tampa Bay.
You can probably guess a few of the steakhouses that appear on this list. Perhaps you also enjoy some (or most) of these locations.
A fine bone-in ribeye steak. (BBGI)
