Calvin Arthur Covell Jr. was born December 1, 1875 and served as mayor of Davis for a combined total of 16 years. CA Covell served on Davis' first City Council from 4/20/1917 to 4/20/1918 and was elected mayor that same year. He was re-elected in 1928, and from 1931-47 served the city's longest term of mayor. In 1944, a year after proposing that the City of Davis officially protest the return of "Japs to the coastal areas of the Pacific," Covell was named the city's first Citizen of the Year, and the annual award now carries his name.
Cal Covell was a native of Buckeye Township, northeast of Winters. His father came across the plains in a covered wagon in 1857, and ten years later moved to Yolo County. Cal was one of the original proponents of city incorporation, was instrumental in setting up a high school in Davisville, and helped bring the University of California campus here. He farmed during most of his life and had holdings north of County Road 31 (subdivided as Covell Park). He was also a butcher at Harby's Meat Market on G Street. His last home was at 329 F Street, and the home since razed. In 1905 he became the second husband of Dollie Tufts (1863-1943), daughter of Joshua B. and Mary Ann Tufts. Cal died at 12:32am, January 8, 1969, at the ripe old age of 93 in the Davis Convalescent Hospital. Masonic funeral services were held January 10 at 2pm in the Davis Funeral Chapel. His sole surviving heir was grandson Frank P. Liggett of Davis.
You may recognize his last name as one of the main streets of Davis.
