One of the most prolific businessman of his time as well as being an educator and author of various popular self-help books, he was also one of America’s most notable keynote speakers.
Born on 24th of October in 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah, his was a significantly religious family. Although he got into athletic during his childhood, Stephen suffered a slipped femur in junior high, which changed his focus from athletics to academics.
After obtaining a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Utah, he went on to get an MBA from the Harvard University. Later, Stephen attended the Brigham Young University to earn his DRE (Doctorate of Religious Education). He is renowned for his academic skills and was awarded 10 honorary doctorates in his lifetime.
Stephen Covey is the author of the popular books, such as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The 8th Habit and The Leaser in Me.
Apart from this, Stephen was also the founder of the Stephen R. Covey and Associates in 1985. Two years later, in 1987, it came to be known as the Covey Leadership Centre. In 1997, the centre merged with Franklin Quest and became FranklinCovey, which now specializes in designing and selling efficient organizational and personal training and productivity tools.
In March 2008, Stephen launched the Stephen Covey’s Online community. This website was a source of accumulated social networking, goal management and various online courses.
Stephen was instrumental in establishing the Master of Organizational Behavior Program (currently merged with the MBA program with OBHR emphasis) at the Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management where was a professor for several years. Later, Stephen shifted back to his professor’s position at the Huntsman School of Business from Utah State University.
Parents:
He was born to Stephen Glenn Covey and Irene Louise Covey (Nee Richards). Stephen Glenn Covey was born in July 29th, 1897 in Salt Lake City, Utah while Irene Louis Richards Covey was also born in Salt Lake City on 5th of April in 1902.
Stephen Glenn Covey married Irene Louis Richards on the 22nd of February in 1922.
Stephen Covey has four siblings; a brother named, John Covey and three sisters, Helen Jean Williams, Irene C Gaddis and Marilyn Richard Covey Williams.
Spouse:
Sandra R. Merrill met Stephen Covey in Great Britain while traveling as the youngest member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
The couple married on the 14th of August in 1956 and went on to have 9 children.
Currently, Sandra is a frequent speaker at the Provost Arts Committee as well as an instrumental part of the Covey Center for the Arts.
Children:
Sandra R. Merrill and Stephen Covey have four sons named Sean Covey, Stephen M R Covey, David Covey and Joshua Covey and five daughters; Maria Cole, Catherine Sagers, Jenny Pitt, Colleen Covey Brown and Cynthia Glenn Covey.
In April of 2012, Stephen Covey died from complications resulting from injuries he sustained in a cycling accident in the Rock Canyon Park in Provo, Utah. He was 79 years of age at the time.
By then he was a revered educationists and academician. He was conffered the following awards during his lifetime:
- 1994 International Entrepreneur of the Year award
- 2003 Fatherhood Award from the National Fatherhood Initiative
- 2004 Golden Gavel award from the Toastmasters International