Deana Bolton Covin

Deana Bolton Covin was a star at every level of her career, but the brightest of her stars has to be the fourteen years she served as director of the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. In 1979, it fell on her shoulders to take an internationally recognized organization which had been directed only by its founder, and to chart the course for its future. The team never missed a beat or a performance opportunity.

Mrs. Covin's tenure as Director of the Rangerettes was a huge success, as she took the performance level of the organization to even greater heights. This was most evident every year at the spring production of Revels.

Mrs. Covin joined the Kilgore Faculty in 1966 as cheerleader sponsor and physical education instructor teaching golf and bowling. She became assistant director of the Rangerettes in 1972, a position she held for seven years, before becoming the Rangerette director in 1979. She very successfully passed on the many traditions and techniques that Miss Davis had started, and kept the Rangerettes in the very center of the dance and drill team spotlight. Mrs. Covin became very well known for her emphasis on precision, polish, and perfection.

Mrs. Covin retired in 1993, but played a very active role in the Rangerette Forever Alumni organization for many years. She created the Rangerette mini-camp program that generates scholarships for all Rangerettes. To date, over $1,000,000 has been raised and distributed to well-deserving members of the Rangerette line.

In September 2001, the newly renovated Rangerette Gymnasium was opened and dedicated to Mrs. Covin just prior to the Rangerettes Forever Homecoming luncheon. The remodeled facility, now known as the Deana Bolton Covin Rangerette Gymnasium, is one of the first two buildings erected for the college in 1935. This honor and tribute to Mrs. Covin was, in the words of several attending the luncheon, “long overdue.”

Mrs. Covin was first married to J.W. (Cotton) Bolton, a former coach at Kilgore College who passed away in 1976. In 1991, she married Dr. Larry Covin, a former SFA classmate - who, by the way, just happened to be the college roommate of her first husband.

Dr. Covin and Mrs. Covin resided in Kilgore until they both passed away – Dr. Covin on February 5, 2012, followed by Mrs. Covin on June 28, 2016.

Mrs. Covin's lasting legacy is one of loyalty and service to all Rangerettes, both active and alumni.