The city of West Carrollton staff and council are mourning the loss of Bill Covell, the city’s director of economic development for the past four years.

Covell, 63, the city’s economic development director since April 14, 2008, passed away May 2 in West Chester, Ohio. He leaves behind his wife Gay, son Jason, daughter-in-law Sybil, and grandson, Vincent.

During his tenure in West Carrollton, Covell was responsible for successfully obtaining the necessary funding for the Exit 47 construction project. He has also championed the future redevelopment along the Great Miami River including the Miami Bend Entertainment District.

Since August 2008, Covell served as the host of West Carrollton’s “Weekly Focus,” a weekly talk show that aired on the Miami Valley Communications Council government access channel 5.

Before joining the West Carrollton staff, he was the economic development administrator for the city of Centerville. His projects there included the development of the Miami Valley Hospital’s campus on Wilmington Pike and the LifeCare Hospital.  He also coordinated the “Heart of Centerville” downtown development project.

Covell served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1967-68 and graduated from Kent State University in 1978.

During his career, Covell served in several public service roles including the assistant to the mayor of the city of Evendale, community development director for the city of Carlisle, government services manager for LJB, Inc., and the village administrator for Riverside.

He was also the city manager for Springboro from 1982 to 1993. In fact, Covell first worked with Brad Townsend, West Carrollton’s city manager, in 1990 when he hired Townsend to serve as his assistant city manager in Springboro. Their paths crossed again in 1997 when Covell worked as part-time economic development director for the city of Carlisle, where Townsend served as city manager.

“He was a long-time friend and mentor of mine,” Townsend said. “I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to work with him again during the past four years.”

“His illness progressed very rapidly and his passing comes as somewhat of a shock to us,” Townsend said.