Former Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes hospitalized with COVID-19, wife says
A former Myrtle Beach mayor who served in the role for 12 years over three terms has been hospitalized with COVID-19, his wife said Friday.
John Rhodes’ wife, Terri Springs, made a Facebook post about her husband’s condition and asked for prayers.
“This morning as you pray this prayer would you please include my husband’s name ... John is currently admitted to Grand Strand’s PCU Covid Unit. The next 24 hours are critical,” Springs said in the post.
Rhodes, 77, had first been elected to city council in 2005. Mayor Brenda Bethune defeated Rhodes in a mayoral runoff election in 2017.
“I’ve had 12 years to represent the city,” he said at the time, swallowing back an onslaught of emotions. “It’s been an honor and a privilege.”
Rhodes currently serves as the executive director of Beach Ball Classic, a 40-year national tournament for high school basketball teams that is held each December at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. He sat at his usual courtside spot through much of the most recent tournament held Dec. 26-31.
The post has been shared 20 times and has over 600 comments from family, friends and community members showing their support.
Rhodes has lived in Myrtle Beach for five decades.
He is proud of his many accomplishments as mayor, specifically citing in 2017 the opening of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and SkyWheel, opening and development of The Market Common, building of the Myrtle Beach Sports Center, building of Savannah’s Playground – which is designed for children with special needs – and implementation of the Tourism Development Fee, which funds out-of-state marketing and tax breaks for residents.
He worked as a lifeguard as a young adult, managed the Yachtsman hotel and Ocean Dunes Resort, and spent about three decades as a restaurateur before turning to politics.
He owned and operated several restaurants. He was the managing partner of a Hooters restaurant in North Myrtle Beach and a steakhouse in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was a partner in a second Hooters in Garden City Beach and the now-closed Gullyfield Restaurant.
This past fall, Rhodes was an announcer on Friday Night Rivals high school football television broadcasts on WWMB-CW.
Rhodes’ last known serious health issue was in December 2012, when he had surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Rhodes was released from the hospital soon after the surgery and had a quick recovery.
This story was originally published January 15, 2021 at 11:51 AM.