Former E&H Interim-President Dr. Douglas Covington Passes Away

Dr. Douglas Covington speaks at the 2006 Commencement.

Dr. Douglas Covington, who served as interim president of Emory & Henry College during a time of transition at the College in 2006 passed away on June 27th at the age of 77.

Prior to his arrival at Emory & Henry, Dr. Covington had a distinguished career leading such institutions as Winston-Salem State University, Alabama A&M University, Cheyney University in Pennsylvania, and Radford University, where he became the first African-American president of a non-Historically Black College or University in Virginia. The Douglas and Beatrice Covington Center for Visual and Performing Arts was dedicated on the campus of Radford University following his retirement in 2005. At the university’s 2005 spring commencement, the Radford University Board of Visitors conferred upon him the unprecedented title of President Emeritus.

Covington held numerous leadership roles on governing boards for civic and professional organizations at the state and national levels throughout his lifetime. He was commonly chosen as a keynote speaker at college and university convocations, community-sponsored programs and national conferences for professional and civic organizations.

Dr. Covington was appointed interim president of E&H when the College’s 19th president, Dr. Tom Morris, was named Virginia Secretary of Education in early 2006, and served until the College’s 20th president, Dr. Rosalind Reichard assumed the position later that year.

The Emory & Henry family joins in extending our condolences to Dr. Covington’s family.

Visitation will be held at the Douglas and Beatrice Covington Center for the Performing Arts at Radford University on Friday, June 29  from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

Funeral services will be held at Grove United Methodist Church in Radford, VA on Saturday, June 30 at 12:00pm.   A private Interment will take place later in the day. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The H. Douglas & Beatrice M. Covington Endowed Scholarship in the Performing Arts.  c/o Radford University Foundation  Post Office Box 6893  Radford, Va. 24142

Arrangements entrusted to Penn’s Funeral Home, Pulaski, Va.