>> the next recipient is known to most people in this room, to every single person in texas, mary covingtona force of nature. >> i jokingly told mary this morning when we first met, i did not need readers, and now i do. i have known her a while, i will tell you a little bit about her and then become a little more personal, because this is an emotional award and i am happy to be a part of it. mary covington is a special programs manager for harris county in houston, texas. you already heard about houston this morning from the secretary. she manages the county drug corp success through recovery star program. as well as a veteran treatment corp program. she has helped turn the program into one of the preeminent veterans treatment programs, even being featured in -- on 60 minutes. in addition to her tireless efforts to assure that each participant receives the appropriate treatment, she has been an advocate at the state and national level. her efforts have helped spread veterans treatment corps throughout the lone star state of texas, but recently in washington dc meeting with congress to urge

mary covington is a force of ature. >> i jokingly told mary this morning when we first met i did notd readers, and now i do. so i've known her a while. i will tell you a little bit about her and then become a little bit more personal because this is a really emotional award and i'm proud to be a part of boe stowing it upon her. frank covington, the special ograms manager in harris county, houston texas. she manages the harris county adult court success through addiction recovery, star, program, as well as the veterans treatment court programs as coordinator in veterans treatment course she helped turn it into one of the pre-eminent veterans treatment program, even being featured on 60 minutes. in addition to her tireless efforts to ensure each participant receives appropriate treatment, she's been an incredible advocate at the state and national level. her efforts have help sod spread -- have helped spread veterans treatment court not only throughout the lone star state of texas but she's recently been in washington, d.c. meeting with members of congress to urge their support for vet

mary covington is a force of nature. >> i jokingly told mary this morning when we first met, i did noted readers. and now i do so i've known her a while. i will tell you a little bit about her. and then become a little bit more personal, because this is a really emotional award and i am proud to be a part of bestowing it upon her. mary covington is a special programs manager for harris county. that is houston, texas. you've already heard about houston this morning from the secretary. she manages the harris county adult drug court success through addiction recovery star program. as well as the veterans treatment court programs. as coordinator in veterans treatment courts she has helped turn the program into one of the preeminent veterans treatment courts programs, even being featured on "60 minutes." in addition to her tireless efforts to ensure each participant receive the appropriate treatment, she has been an incredible advocate at the state and the national level. her efforts have helped spread veterans treatment courts throughout not only the lone star state of texas, but she's rec

mary covington is a force of nature. >> i jokingly told mary this morning when we first met, i did noteed readers. and now i do so i've known her a while. i will tell you a little bit about her. and then become a little bit more personal, because this is a really emotional award and i am proud to be a part of bestowing it upon her. mary covington is a special programs manager for harris county. that is houston, texas. you've already heard about houston this morning from the secretary. she manages the harris county adult drug court success through addiction recovery star program. as well as the veterans treatment court programs. as coordinator in veterans treatment courts she has helped turn the program into one of the preeminent veterans treatment courts programs, even being featured on "60 minutes." in addition to her tireless efforts to ensure each participant receive the appropriate treatment, she has been an incredible advocate at the state and the national level. her efforts have helped spread veterans treatment courts throughout not only the lone star state of texas, but she's re