BCU Celebrates Longtime Friend Jimbo Covert Induction to NFL Hall of Fame

August 13, 2021

It was an evening to remember as BCU celebrated its longtime friend and former Chicago Bear, James Paul “Jimbo” Covert, who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame on August 7, 2021.


Paying tribute to Covert, BCU was one of the sponsor hosts of a pre-enshrinement event held as a special evening for family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones to celebrate and reflect on his career achievements both on and off the field.


Covert played college football in his home state at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was recognized as an All-American. He was selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft and played professionally for the Chicago Bears from 1983 to 1991. A proud part of Chicago history, Covert was part of the winning Chicago Bears Superbowl XX team that saw the Bears bring home the title in 1985.


During Covert's athletic career, he was named to an All-Pro team three straight years (1985–1987), a first- or second-team All-NFC selection four times (1985–1987, 1990), and a first- or second-team All-NFL selection three times.


Following his retirement from the NFL, Covert built an equally successful career in the healthcare industry, focusing on healthcare sales, marketing, and acquisition initiatives. Beginning his healthcare career at Baxter International, the original founding Company Partner of BCU, Covert first served as Director of Sales and Development in the Physical Therapy Division. He subsequently held positions as Vice President of Development for Caremark Physical Therapy (a Baxter spin-off) and Senior Vice President of Development for Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corporation, before starting Keystone Strategies, LLC, in 2000. He later served as Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Development at HealthSouth Corporation and President and Chief Executive Officer of The Institute for Transfusion Medicine, one of the nation’s foremost non-profit organizations specializing in transfusion medicine and related services.


“Jimbo has a football career that will long be celebrated as a part of Chicago history,” BCU President & CEO Mike Valentine (pictured) said. “His career off the field is just as meaningful. Those fortunate enough to call Jimbo a friend know that his lifetime of professional achievements can only be eclipsed by his incredible energy. We are proud to celebrate the many accomplishments of our longtime friend.”


BCU was established in 1981 to serve the needs of Baxter’s employees and their families. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, it is one of the fastest growing Credit Union in the past four decades and serves over 300,000 members across the US and Puerto Rico.


In 2020, BCU was named a Forbes Best-In-State Credit Union for the second consecutive year, ranking #1 in Illinois and #5 in Minnesota. Members voted BCU to the top spot based on overall satisfaction, trust, service, product offerings, and financial well-being resources.

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