Former President Ronald Reagan statue finds a home in Covington

A bronze statue of the 40th president of the United States Ronald Wilson Reagan will be unveiled at a ceremony at 3 p.m. today at the Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire St.

Visionary Louisiana artist and sculptor Patrick Miller created the statue being donated to the city by the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation.

Covington Mayor Candace Watkins will present a proclamation thanking Phyllis M. Taylor and the foundation for their dedication and support of the historic project. Watkins said the project would not have happened without them.

Catherine Brown, the mayor’s assistant, said the statue is as much a tribute to Taylor as it is to Reagan. Taylor had begun this project before his death, and his wife will be presenting the statue to the city at the unveiling.

Taylor, who began the Taylor Plan for higher education funding that has evolved into TOPS, was an active proponent of educational opportunities. His foundation’s mission is “to promote the common good and well-being of all people of our nation, primarily by promoting universal and unlimited educational opportunities based solely on each individual’s demonstrated ability and willingness to learn.”