Mural artist Dawn (Flory) Babylon
A delightful new mural now graces the corner of Spring and High streets in Covington. The colorful artwork depicts an elephant running through a flower garden and commemorates one of the village's most unforgettable moments—the "Great Elephant Escape" of 1982.
The day was June 9, 1982. The Hoxie Brothers Circus had just finished its final performance in Covington, a benefit for the Covington Police Auxiliary. Founded by Leonard Basil "Hoxie" Tucker in Greenville, Florida, in 1943, the Hoxie Brothers Circus was known for bringing the big top to smaller towns often overlooked by larger circuses. Despite its name, there were no "Hoxie brothers." Tucker simply liked the sound of the name. The circus remained one of the nation's last tent-based circuses before ceasing operations in the mid-1980s.
What happened after the final show became part of Covington history.
According to the Dayton Daily News of June 10, 1982, a three-ton elephant named Hoxie backed into a 440-volt circuit breaker during the performance and bolted from the tent. Three other elephants followed. Between approximately 9:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., the four elephants wandered through Covington before circus workers eventually rounded them up. Two of the elephants were reportedly female animals intentionally sent out to help coax Hoxie back to the circus grounds at Covington Elementary School.
The circus may have been short-handed that evening. The previous day, animal handler Robert Burris had been injured by two elephants during a performance in Tipp City when one knocked him to the ground and another struck him in the chest. He was recovering at Stouder Memorial Hospital in Troy when the elephants escaped.
The J.R. Clarke Public Library's online history of Covington recounts that two elephants traveled east on Ohio 36 before wandering onto Roger Clark's farm, through a cattle pasture and toward Highland Cemetery. They crossed Ohio 48 and entered Miller's Pond near the edge of town, where they were captured. The other two elephants followed the railroad tracks west, crossed Ohio 48 on the railroad overpass and were captured on the west side of Covington.
Miami County Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Mahan searched for a tranquilizer gun while dispatchers contacted both the Columbus and Cincinnati zoos before learning that Hoxie had already been captured.
The Dayton Daily News reported that Hoxie, the last elephant to be captured, was finally lured in around 12:30 a.m. with fruit at Miller's Pond off Ohio 48. Bananas and other feed reportedly helped bring the adventure to a peaceful end.
A June 10, 1982, Troy Daily News story, "More Than One Way to Catch an Elephant," quoted Covington Police Chief Norman Swartz: "We're just real lucky no one was injured. There were a lot of little children at the circus. Most people can't remember when the last circus was here, but it will be a long time before they forget this one."
Today, that remarkable night is remembered through a mural created by Covington artist Dawn (Flory) Babylon.
A 1989 Covington High School graduate, Babylon developed her love of art at an early age and credits former art teacher Janie Gildow with inspiring both her creativity and appreciation for art history. After graduating from the School of Advertising Art in Kettering, where she studied illustration and graphic design, she worked as a freelance artist while raising four children. She later taught classes at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center for nearly 20 years and currently teaches art at Troy Christian Elementary and the Miami County Cooperative Learning Center. In 2024, she curated her own exhibition, Wild & Whimsical, at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center. Known for her whimsical style and vibrant use of color, Babylon often creates artwork inspired by nature and wildlife.
When the Village of Covington sought a local artist to create a public mural, Babylon eagerly volunteered.
"I have always been drawn to towns with murals," she said. "I know I am not alone in this. I am excited about the prospect of being part of something that can add to the culture and beautification of the town that I grew up in and call my home."
After discussing ideas with community members, Babylon decided the mural should be vibrant, welcoming and interactive while preserving a piece of Covington's history. The "Great Elephant Escape" immediately stood out.
As a child, Babylon remembers watching the giant circus tent being raised behind the elementary school before attending the Hoxie Brothers Circus. The flying trapeze performers were her favorite act, but she was equally fascinated by the elephants as they performed balancing routines and headstands under the big top. Learning the next morning that four elephants had roamed freely through town left a lasting impression and eventually inspired the mural decades later.
The finished artwork depicts Hoxie running beneath Covington's railroad overpass and through a colorful flower garden, recalling part of the elephant's nighttime journey through the village. Designed to spark conversations, encourage visitors to stop for photographs and celebrate one of Covington's most memorable stories, the mural also invited community members to paint flowers and leaves, making it a true community project.
Babylon thanked the many volunteers who helped create the mural, the residents who stopped to share their memories of the elephant escape or offer words of encouragement, the Village of Covington for supporting the project and John and Deb Hackett for donating their building as the mural's home. What began as a public art project ultimately became a community effort, preserving one of Covington's most beloved stories for future generations.
