July 25
1924: The “Marine Monument,” later nicknamed “Iron Mike,” is dedicated at the Hostess House on Parris Island. The keynote speaker at the dedication is USMC Commandant Maj. Gen. John A. LeJeune. It is the first war memorial specifically for Parris Island-trained Marines who fought during World War I. Brig. Gen. Eli Cole (1867-1929) had been the loudest voice for a monument to be erected that would honor the Marines who fought during The Great War. He also had the backing of highly decorated Lt. Col. Frank Evans and The National Academy of Design of New York City, as well as many other Marine Corps veterans who supported the project. The sculptor was Robert Ingersoll Aitken, Captain of a machine gun unit in the U.S. Army’s 306th Infantry Regiment during The Great War.
July 27
2019: Democratic Presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson shares her message on the campaign trail with approximately 130 people at Beaufort’s United Church of Jesus Christ.
July 28
1883: Hannah Jones Smalls, first wife of Robert Smalls, dies. She was reportedly about 58 years old.
2021: Beaufort-born weightlifter C.J. Cummings competes for the United States in the Men’s 73-kilogram weight class at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Cummings made two of his six lifts for a total of 325 kg, finishing ninth.
July 29
2019: Longtime Thomas Heyward Academy softball coach Bob Layman is named the new head coach at Battery Creek.
2020: Longtime City of Beaufort Police Chief Matt Clancy dies at age 56 from complications caused by neuroendocrine cancer.
July 30
2020: City of Beaufort Deputy Police Chief Dale McDorman is named interim Police Chief after the death of longtime Chief Matt Clancy.
— Compiled by Mike McCombs
