Bedford Larry COVIN

29 Sept 1919-5 Feb 2012
A service of celebration will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Kilgore, Texas, with the Reverend Darwood Galaway and the Reverend Ralph Rudy officiating. Graveside services will follow at Henderson City Cemetery in Henderson, Texas. Larry passed away quietly at home at 8:23 a.m. Sunday, February 5, 2012. Throughout his life he remained a devout Christian, committed to his faith, his family, his country, his community and his teaching. Bedford Larry Covin, Ed. D., was born September 29, 1919, in Longview, Texas, to Bedford Forrest Covin and Jesse Lee Lawler Covin. Larry attended grade school in Mineola, Texas, and graduated from Mineola High School in 1937. His college career began at Stephen F. Austin State College in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he received a bachelor degree in 1946 and a masters degree in 1948. He obtained an Ed.D. from the George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1954. While at S.F.A., Larry was co-captain of the football team where he won All-Conference recognition in 1941. He set the current SFA records for the longest punt return for a touchdown (88 yards) against East Texas State in Commerce, and for most interceptions (4) against Sam Houston State University. Lettering in football for four years, he also lettered in track for three years and one year in golf and is a member of the SFA Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1942, he received the honor of being chosen as Mr. S.F.A. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army Air Force July 23, 1942, as a bombardier on B26s and assigned to England, where he flew 50 missions over enemy territory before returning stateside. His military recognitions include the Air Medal (10 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Distinguished Flying Cross (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), and the Presidential Unit Citation for his tour in the European Theater Operation. He was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant. Larry told an amusing story of his enlistment experience. Following the assault on Pearl Harbor, he and his brother, Forrest, went to the recruitment offices in Dallas. Larry applied to the Navy, while Forrest applied to the Army Air Force. Both failed their physical exams and were rejected. They passed each other in the hall between the offices as they each went to apply to the other branch (Larry, now to the Air Force, and Forrest, to the Navy) and remarkably, both passed their second physicals. Another amusing story is what happened when he received his doctorate from Peabody. Upon returning to SFA, Dr. Birdwell, the first president of the college, told him: “Laddie, you have earned your doctorate, now learn to wear it. That's why he went by Larry and not Dr. Covin. His professional career included teaching and coaching in Iraan, Texas, and in Nacogdoches, Texas, public schools. During an 18-year career as a faculty member and administrator at Stephen F. Austin State University, he held the positions of director of orientation, director of guidance, chief testing officer and intramural director for the university. While living in Nacogdoches, he became a member of the Masons, and six months later he became a Shriner, belonging to Milam Lodge No. 2 for 50 years. He then continued his career as a faculty member at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, for 13 years. Stephen F. Austin University would later award Dr. Covin with the S.F.A. Professor Emeritus Commendation for his service. Outside the classroom, Larry officiated football games for the Southwest Athletic Conference from 1952-1976. During those years, he was an official for the Cotton Bowl (1959), the Gator Bowl (1974), Rice Bowl (1974), Fiesta Bowl (1975) and three Sugar Bowls (1977-1979). During those same years, he also officiated basketball games for the Southwest Conference and the state high school basketball tournament from 1959 until 1963. He was president of the Southwest Basketball Officials Association from 1966 until 1968, and is a life member of the Southwest Football and Basketball Officials Associations. After retirement from active officiating, he assumed the role of chief observer and evaluated game officials in both football and basketball for the Southwest Conference. Before moving to Kilgore, he was involved as a member of the board of trustees for the Lindale Independent School District, Hide-A-Way Lake Club board of directors and as commissioner of basketball officials for the Texas Eastern Athletic Conference. In 1991, Larry moved to Kilgore where he became an active member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church serving as a member of the administrative board, a member of the scholarship committee, foundation and usher and member of the Alexander-Griffin Sunday school class. His community service includes vice president of Kilgore Churchmen, co-chairman of Country Kitchen UMW, member of the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce, as well as being a board member of the Kilgore Habitat for Humanity, the Gregg South American Cancer Society and the Kilgore United Way. He was co-chairman of Derrick Fest and was a charter member of the Roy H. Laird Hospital Foundation Board, where he served as both vice president and president. Larry also served as the director of the Kilgore Community Concert for many years. He has been recognized as the Ambassador of the Year for the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce and as Citizen of the Quarter by Citizens Bank. In keeping with his commitment to education, he was co-director, Mother Teresa After School Program, Christ the King Church, and he was also a Junior Achievement volunteer for the second grade at Chandler School since the program started. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 20 years, Deana Bolton Covin. Other relatives include son, Ben Covin and wife, Deborah, of Plano, Texas; daughter, Larilee Covin Kiesel and husband, Dr. Joe Kiesel, of Nacogdoches, Texas; stepdaughter, Jadean Bolton Roberts and husband, Dr. Jerry Ted Roberts, of Lake Cherokee ; grandson, Barrett Covin of Dallas, Texas; grandson, Davis Covin of Austin, Texas; granddaughter, Jill Kiesel of Nacogdoches, Texas; granddaughter, Ellen Kiesel of Nacogdoches, Texas; step-granddaughter Jaleesa Hatchett and husband, Brian, of Longview, Texas; step-grandson, Dr. Jadie Roberts and wife, Dr. Shiloh Roberts, of Lake Cherokee; step-great granddaughter, Addison Caroline Hatchett and step-great grandson, Robert Cole Hatchett, of Longview, Texas; niece, Joyce Covin Runyan of Plano, Texas; nephew, John Covin of New Jersey; and nephew, Keith Covin of Noank, Connecticut. As an educator, Larry liked to pass on words of wisdom to his students. His favorite sayings were: I had rather see a sermon than hear one. Remember, when you point your finger at someone, three of your fingers point back at you.Life is like a bank account, you cannot always withdraw without putting something back in. You will be overdrawn. A man never stands so tall as when he stoops to help others.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to the Larry Covin Football Scholarship, SFA Alumni Association; P.O. Box 6096, SFA Station; Nacogdoches, Texas,75962 Please leave online condolences at www.raderfuneralhome.com Rader Funeral Home, Kilgore. Printed in the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel 7 Feb 2012

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