North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Destination North Myrtle Beach has announced that Harold Worley will be honored during the 2023 Annual Business Awards as the Senator Dick Elliott Excellence in Leadership Award recipient. The award honors an individual and community champion who epitomizes what it means to be a leader for family, community, and a lifetime of exceptional dedicated service to the city of North Myrtle Beach and the State of South Carolina. The honoree is selected by the Board Chair with input from the board of directors.
Harold Worley, a native of Horry County, was born near Little River and grew up working in the fields with his father while his mother raised a large family. His humble beginnings helped him become a successful business owner, farmer, contractor, and resort owner.
In 1988, he was elected to North Myrtle Beach City Council and four years later served District 104 in the South Carolina House of Representatives for two terms. Mr. Worley was elected to represent the residents of District 1 on the Horry County Council in 2002 and served for 20 years.
He served on numerous boards, supported many local charities and organizations, and is an active member of the First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach. In 1999, he became one of the founding members of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau and served as its first Board Chairman.
Priorities for Harold Worley’s focus throughout the years of service to the community included improving water quality for North Myrtle Beach, beach renourishment, and better planning for communities to prevent beach encroachment with support for infrastructure improvements as well as economic development. He was instrumental in securing additional funding for the promotion of events, especially during needs periods and directing the accommodations taxes to the various chambers of commerce in Horry County.
As a business owner, he has supported the development of a new music festival that is growing and attracting people to the city and has made his property on 2nd Avenue available for parking at large community events such as the recent St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival.