In 2011 Robert Mendheim placed a list on Facebook denoting the "notable people of Covington." Here is a copy of that list.
Note: I am beginning to post some pictures and information from various older Facebook pages because not everyone has access to Facebook and even those who do may not be aware of or members of the pertinent St. Tammany history pages. So this information needs to be preserved somewhere outside of Facebook, especially if Facebook becomes defunct.
- Ernest Angelo, Texas oilman and Republican politician, was reared in Covington.
- Jack Donahue, current state senator from St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes; resides in Mandeville
- Frank Burton Ellis, state senator (1940-1944), U.S. District Court judge, 1962-1965
- Elizabeth Futrall, an opera soprano, was reared in Covington. Her father was minister of the Covington First Baptist Church for many years.
- Robert Higgs, a prominent American economist, currently resides in Covington.
- Blanche Long, the First Lady of Louisiana from 1939-1940, 1948-1952, and 1956-1960, was born in Covington in 1902.
- NBA all-star "Pistol" Pete Maravich lived in Covington until his death in 1988.
- Lee Harvey Oswald, assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, attended school at the C.J. Schoen Middle School, formerly Covington Elementary School, located in downtown Covington.
- Author and essayist Walker Percy moved to Covington in 1950 where he and wife Mary "Bunt" Percy reared their two daughters. He wrote most of his works there until his death in 1990. He is buried at St. Joseph Abbey, a monastery north of Covington.
- Philip Granville "Phil" Short is a former Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate, who served from 1996 until his resignation in 1999. Short, who grew up in Shreveport, unseated the legendary B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn, Sr., in the 1995 general election. He subsequently moved to Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia.
- Nilo Silvan, played professional football for Tampa Bay Bucs; born and raised in Covington.
- Ian Somerhalder, actor/model was born in Covington.
- Michael G. Strain, the commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry. Having won the seat from 28-year incumbent Robert Fred "Bob" Odom.
- Diane Winston, businesswoman; member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes (1996-2008)
- Isiah "Butch" Robertson, raised in Covington, pro football player with LA Rams in 1970's.
- Hank Stram, Saints Football Coach, was added to the list.
Note: I am beginning to post some pictures and information from various older Facebook pages because not everyone has access to Facebook and even those who do may not be aware of or members of the pertinent St. Tammany history pages. So this information needs to be preserved somewhere outside of Facebook, especially if Facebook becomes defunct.
