Dr. Red Covington

Dr. Red Covington February 25, 1938 May 14, 2013 Dr. Red Covington of Waco passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at Hillcrest Hospital after a brief illness. Memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m., Monday, May 20, at First Baptist Church of Waco with the Dr. Matt Snowden officiating. Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m.Sunday, May 19, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Ray William Covington was born on February 25, 1938, in Alvord, Texas, to William and Mary Elizabeth Covington. To know Red Covington was to know a man who was bright, funny, loving, wise and incredibly loyal. Red spent a lifetime serving others and making everything and everyone around him better. Red earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University in 1959 and a medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine in 1963. Red received his post-graduate general surgery training at the Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston, Texas. While in Houston, Red met a hospital volunteer named Sandra Cartlidge. Red and Sandra were married June 28, 1963. In funny Red fashion, he often called Sandra, "the very first cartlidge he ever took out." Red and Sandra's love and relationship endured as they married and started a family. The Covingtons spent two years in Abilene, Texas where Red practiced general surgery at Dyess Air Force Base. Red then continued advanced training in his chosen specialty, orthopedic surgery, as part of a three year residency at the Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals. After Dr. Covington's orthopedic training, he and his family moved to Waco in 1969. Red joined the Waco Bone and Joint Clinic where he served the Waco community for almost 4 decades. In 1972, when Grant Teaff took over the football program at Baylor University, Red was asked to join the Baylor Family as the Team Physician for the fledgling Sports Medicine Program at Baylor. Red and Baylor Athletics were a perfect fit. Dr. Covington not only had a passion for athletics, he had a burning desire to help student athletes reach their personal goals. Red was extremely popular among the players because he cared so deeply about them and took such exceptional care of them. Under Dr. Covington's leadership as well as Dr. James Bowden Baylor developed one of the top Sports Medicine Teams in all of college football. Coach Teaff says of Dr. Covington: "Red's leadership on the medical side played an integral role in the building of a winning football program at Baylor University. He was an invaluable part of my team and one of my closest friends." As an orthopedic surgeon for Waco Bone & Joint, Red took pride in treating a broad range of musculoskeletal diseases and conditions and helped countless patients. After 39 years as a partner at Waco Bone and Joint Clinic, Dr. Covington "retired" only to serve again for the last few years, as the on-call doctor for Baylor Health Services. Dr. Covington was president of the medical staff at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in 1982, was a member of the Baylor Development Council and a 1992 Recipient of the W.R. White Service Award from the Baylor Alumni Association. Red served on the Baylor University Board of Regents from 1989 until 1998. Dr. Covington was a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and an Honorary Member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and Southwest Athletic Trainers Association. Red and his wife Sandra who also graduated from Baylor University in 1958 - are long time members of First Baptist Church of Waco where Red served as the chairman of the board of deacons and taught Sunday School to young adults for over 20 years. Red Covington was first and foremost a family man. His wife, daughters, son-in-law and granddaughters were certainly the light of his life. He loved Baylor University and held a very deep devotion to his Lady Bears. Red was a man of deep personal faith who loved to enjoy God's creation. Red enjoyed working on his farm, riding his tractor and taking care of Lake Covington. Whatever Red touched, he made it better. Red blessed so many lives and will be forever in our hearts. Dr. Covington is survived by his wife, Sandra; and his daughters, Julie Covington of Waco and Jill Underwood and husband, Paul, of Brownwood; two granddaughters, Sarah & Meredith Underwood; one brother, James O. Spud Covington; one niece, Mary Jane Covington; sister-in-law, Linda Clark and husband, Floyd. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.