Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1065419
12 WAC Magazine | wac.net Remembering Don Covey Former WAC Chairman Don Covey died last October aer a prolonged battle with Parkinson's disease. Don is remembered as a champion of down- town Seattle and especially for his efforts from 1979 to 1980 to help save e 5th Avenue eatre. He served as WAC Chairman from 1980–1981 aer joining the Club in 1956. Don and daughter Linda attended the WAC's annual Father Daughter Banquet 50 consecutive times, starting when Linda was 5 years old. rough the years, many granddaughters joined the tradition. "at special occasion fit well with his desire of building memories," son Brad said. "It was a very special moment for him and our family every year. Looking back, the WAC is part of so many of those memories." Don spent his professional career at Unico Properties, retiring as chair- man of the board in 1994. "Don Covey epitomized business acumen [and] civic pride," former Seattle mayor Norm Rice told the Puget Sound Business Journal. C O U R T E S Y C L U B I N T E R N AT I O N A L E C H AT E A U S T. A N N E C O U R T E S Y C O V E Y FA M I LY first take don covey / garage turns 30 Don graduated from Franklin High School and the University of Washing- ton. He was widely involved in com- munity organizations and served as president or chair of many, including the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. At the WAC, he is remem- bered for his extraordinary leadership, generosity and kindness. "Mr. Covey contributed so much to the Seattle community," WAC President & CEO Chuck Nelson said. "e WAC is blessed to have been one of the orga- nizations to which he gave his time and energy." Don Covey is survived by his wife, Marilyn, daughter Linda, and sons Duane and Brad. He also greatly en- joyed his 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Don was 90 years old. WHAT A TRIP! We're looking for your favorite experiences at our reciprocal clubs. The March/April issue of WAC Magazine will focus on travel, and we want to share your stories. Tell us where you stayed and what you loved: wac.net/reciprocal-stories Don't ever underestimate the power of a handshake. Aer all, that very thing sealed the agreement that eventually led to the current WAC Garage. If you don't know the story, settle in. It was 1978, and Seattle business- man Nick Carras was looking to sell the Windsor Garage, located just across Union Street from the WAC. Carras told Randolph Pillow, the WAC President at the time, that he would accept $2.2 mil- lion (equal to $8.4 million today) for the property. All the WAC needed to do was close the sale in 30 days. With that, the two men shook hands. While Club leaders figured out the fi- nances, Carras declined a competing of- fer of $2.7 million. e WAC closed the deal in time, and Club parking expanded significantly. A decade later, the WAC entered into another deal, this time with the developers of U.S. Bank Centre. In exchange for a new 314-spot, eight-story underground garage, the WAC allowed the demolition of the old Windsor Garage and new tower construction. at "new" garage opened 30 years ago this month, in January 1989. "Time flies," says Parking Facility Manager Ed Hehman, who started working at the Windsor Garage in 1975 before joining the WAC team. During the past 15 years, more than 3.2 million cars have come in and out of the WAC Garage, enough to cause a traffic jam 9,000 miles long. "We pride ourselves on being the best garage in downtown Seattle," Ed says. Happy 30th, WAC Garage! wac.net/about-the-wac/parking