James Ellis Covington

James Ellis Covington passed away at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, NM on June 1, 2016 following a brief illness. Services will be held Saturday, September 3, 2016 at 10:00 am at First United Methodist Church with Pastor Dan Boyd officiating. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Jim was the first child born to John W. (Bill) and Clara M. (Nicky) Covington and was delivered by his Grandfather Dr. Henry A. Ellis on January 4, 1940 in Pittsburg, Oklahoma. Jim's family moved to Carlsbad, NM in 1946 where he grew up and lived until graduating from Carlsbad High School in 1959. Jim was an exceptional athlete excelling specifically in football and track. He was a member of the State Football Championship teams of 1957 and 1958. Jim was named to the State All Star Football Team in 1959 after averaging a rushing record of 10.7 yards per carry. In track, he was a member of the 440 Yard Relay team that set the National High School record in 1959, and for years, (perhaps to this day) he held the individual record in the 220 Yard sprint. Jim was a very accomplished musician, playing the saxophone and participating in both Junior and Senior High Bands. Additionally, he formed his own dance band, The High Hats, which performed at numerous clubs and dances throughout South Eastern New Mexico. During his musical career, he played with some musical greats like Buddy Holly and Anne Murray. Following graduation Jim attended both the New Mexico Military Institute and Texas Western University on Football and Track scholarships before he enlisted in the United States Army to pursue his life long dream of becoming a pilot. Upon enlisting in the Army he completed Basic and Advanced Infantry Training at Ft. Hood, TX. Then he went on to attend the Army's Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA. He went from Enlisted Pvt. E1 to Officer O1 in only 9 months. Following graduation he was admitted to the Army's pilot training program where he attained his wings to become a Caribou pilot at Ft. Rucker, AL. Jim married the love of his life, Sally Duffin, in the summer of 1962 and moved to Ft. Bragg, NC where he was a pilot of the first Caribou Company to fly and serve in Vietnam. It was while flying in Vietnam that Jim earned his Purple Heart. Upon returning to the states, Jim was promoted to Captain and was stationed at Ft. Rucker, AL where he earned his rating as a Rotary Wing pilot. Stationed in Ft. Belvoir, VA he was assigned Lead Pilot, flying the Caribou and the H-34 Helicopter, for a Scientific Research team doing research on the Greenland Icecap for two successful summer missions. During his military career, Jim earned many citations and medals including: Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Air Assault Badge, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Aviator Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, American Expeditional Forces Medal and Expert Marksman badge. In 1967, prior to being promoted to Major, Jim left the Army to pursue a degree in Airport Management at Auburn University. During that time, he accepted an offer to fly for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, CO. He and Sally moved to Broomfield, CO where his daughters Ashley and Jamie were born. During his tenure as a pilot with NCAR, he was instrumental in global scientific research including the GATE (Global Atmospheric Test Experiment), working with and in several other countries that were first to study the ozone layer. During his career, he piloted several aircraft. Among them were the DeHavilan Buffalo, the Electra, the Sabreliner, and the Queen Air. He flew research projects in more than 79 countries studying a variety of atmospheric conditions such as volcanic eruptions, hailstorm patterns, hurricanes, and mountain waves. After a career ending heart attack, the family moved to Carlsbad, NM where Sally taught high school English and Jim had several business enterprises until health problems forced his retirement. Jim had many hobbies including painting, flying Ultra-light airplanes, customizing motorcycles and Mazda Miatas. Jim was a quiet, generous and a loving individual who always took pride in his family and was always very modest when it came to the many accomplishments he had over his lifetime. Jim was preceded in death by his father John W. Covington and his Aunt Bobbie Pfeiffer and Uncle Frank Pfeiffer. He is survived by his wife, Sally Covington of Carlsbad, NM; daughters: Ashley Covington and husband Preston Harvey, and Jamie Covington all of Carlsbad, NM; mother: Clara (Nicky) Covington of Lancaster, CA; brothers: William C. (Bill) of Camas, WA and Robert A. (Cotton) Covington of Ridgecrest, CA; grandchildren: Simon Wood of Seattle, WA and Paige and Logan Harvey of Carlsbad, NM along with numerous nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Carlsbad High School Track team or Carlsbad High School Band. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com