From staff reports
The Beaufort City Council has officially renamed Southside Loop in Southside Park to Clayton Cooler Loop in recognition of the late Clayton Cooler’s extraordinary service to the City of Beaufort, according to a media release from the City.
Cooler served the City for nearly five decades, “leaving a lasting impact through his leadership, dedication, and commitment to public service as the longtime Public Works Director. His contributions shaped the community’s infrastructure, beautification efforts, and day-to-day operations that continue to benefit residents and visitors alike,” according to the release
“Clayton worked for his beloved City of Beaufort for almost 50 years. He was an institution and icon within the City for those years,” said Warren Parker, Clayton Cooler’s son-in-law, who currently serves as Director of the South Coast Cyber Center and Director of the Pritchard Island Research Living Shores Foundation. “His family is immensely grateful to City Council for bestowing this honor on him. He would be very proud of this honor in recognition of his long service to the community.”
“Clayton Cooler dedicated much of his life to the City of Beaufort, and his impact can still be seen in every corner of our community,” said Councilmen Neil Lipsitz. “It was my privilege to bring forward the recommendation to name this road in his honor. We are deeply grateful for his many years of loyal service, and we are honored to commemorate his legacy in this lasting way.”
The renaming process was reviewed and recommended by the City’s Planning Commission and staff, with full coordination from Beaufort County Emergency Management/911, the U.S. Postal Service, and SCDOT to ensure no conflicts. The ordinance passed unanimously.
As part of the ordinance’s implementation, City staff will begin updating signage, maps, and official databases to reflect the new name. The City will host a formal naming ceremony for the new street at a later date, with details to be announced.
