One of Covington's most dynamic personalities over the years was Col. Earl Wilson.
After retiring from the Army in 1961, "Col. Wilson" founded the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, co-founded and was the first Grand Marshal of Covington's Krewe of Olympia, and served as Charter Head Master of River Forest Academy, now the site of Kehoe-France Northshore School.
He also ran an active tax service and, with his eldest son, presided over Colonel & Son's Restaurant in Covington's Old Southern Hotel.
In heroic service during WW II and the Korean Conflict, he earned 17 decorations, among them the Army's Silver Star for gallantry in action and two Bronze Stars for valor in combat. He received two Purple Hearts for wounds in France and Korea and, in WW II, was among the first American Troops to liberate the Nazi death camp at Dachau.
Wilson also saw duty in Hawaii, Panama and Taiwan. A deeply committed Christian, Col. Wilson taught numerous home Bible studies and, for years, commuted across Lake Pontchartrain to make cold calls upon New Orleans businessmen for the purpose of sharing faith. He was a member of Northshore Bible Church in Covington.
He was the father of two sons Earl Jr. and Jim and a daughter Debbie Diamond. Interment was in Theo Dendinger Cemetery in Madisonville.
