A former varsity football star and senior class president, Dale Alan Covington went on to become a Recreation Supervisor for his hometown, Santa Fe Springs. He loved his job and was a respected member of the city's administrative leadership team. In addition to enjoying cooking, music, gardening and buying the perfect gift, Dale also liked designing and building haunted houses. While working on one in 2006, he collapsed and died a few days later from a series of heart attacks. A registered donor, Dale was able to heal dozens of lives through tissue donation. The City of Santa Fe Springs flew the flag over City Hall at half-mast, an honor usually reserved for Federal, State and City Council members.

Dale's Story

Born in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Dale Alan Covington was a star football player and senior class president at Santa Fe High School. He made friends for life and had an art for making everyone feel special, no matter how much time had passed since their last conversation.

Dale loved his job as a Recreation Supervisor for the City of Santa Fe Springs, where he was a respected member of the city's administrative leadership team. He was also a great husband, father, mentor and friend. In his free time, Dale enjoyed cooking, music, gardening, golf, designing haunted houses and shopping for the "perfect gift" to give loved ones.

While working on the city's annual haunted house in 2006, Dale collapsed. He went on to spend the weekend in the hospital. His physicians scheduled an angiogram for Monday afternoon, but Dale died that morning at 48-years-old from a series of heart attacks.

A registered donor, Dale was able to gift 69 tissue grafts and more than 40 bone grafts for transplant, as well as donations of heart valves and arteries for research. According to his wife Ruth, "These donations are a tribute to his generous nature and his obsession with finding the perfect gift."

His death was a shock not only to his family and friends, but to the entire community. The City of Santa Fe Springs flew the flag over City Hall at half-mast, an honor usually reserved for Federal, State and City Council members.