SC lawmakers keep naming roads for living politicians — despite a history of scandals

While efforts to name interstates for President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama have drawn attention, quieter proposals would honor several S.C. public officials.

State lawmakers’ practice of naming roads and bridges for living public officials has caused problems before.

In 2019, for instance, John Hardee, a state Department of Transportation commissioner and namesake of the John Hardee Expressway in Columbia, admitted to destroying evidence in an FBI investigation into whether he accepted bribes. The 72-year-old Columbia resident avoided prison, receiving probation.

A day later he was arrested again – this time after arranging to meet a prostitute who was actually an undercover Richland County sheriff’s deputy.

The episode led to the road being renamed and prompted legislative bills requiring that public officials be deceased before roads or bridges could be named for them.

None of the bills gained traction. And today, state lawmakers continue the practice, even as some warn that legacies are not set until after public officials die.

“You don’t know what the future holds, especially if they’re still in office,” said Rep. Richie Yow, R-Chesterfield, who sits on the House committee that considers naming proposals.

In 2020, Yow derailed an effort to rename a Hampton County road in honor of its former sheriff. An internet search turned up a 1993 executive order from the governor, suspending Sheriff Rudy Loadholt from office after his indictment on sexual assault charges. Though Loadholt had been acquitted, Yow’s discovery was enough to halt the proposal.

This legislative session, lawmakers have introduced resolutions to name a portion of Interstate 77 in Richland County for Obama and have approved a proposal to name a not-yet-built Interstate 73 for Trump.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said he isn’t a “big road namer,” but said individuals are worthy of the honor in certain cases.

“I think someone who’s been the president of the United States is worthy of having a road named after him,” Massey told reporters Thursday.

Also this session, lawmakers have requested to name nearly 70 S.C. roads, bridges and intersections. Most would honor police officers and prominent local figures, according to State House records.

But some would recognize living public officials. They are:

• A Darlington County intersection to be named for former Gov. David Beasley and a county bridge for former House Speaker Jay Lucas, a state Supreme Court candidate earlier this year. Both proposals have been approved.
• A Pickens County intersection for former Sen. Larry Martin, a legislative leader for 38 years through 2017. It has been approved.
• A stretch of Interstate 77 in Chester County for former Rep. Greg Delleney who served for 27 years through 2018. It is pending.

State Sen. JD Chaplin, R-Darlington, co-sponsor of the resolution honoring Beasley and Lucas, said he would be more hesitant to honor other living officials.

“I’m very confident that if there was anything in either of these two people’s past, it would’ve long (ago) come out,” said the Darlington Republican.

Joseph Bustos contributed reporting to this article

Gina Smith is the director of SC Investigates, a nonprofit newsroom that collaborates with SC newspapers to produce accountability journalism.

This story was originally published March 30, 2026 at 11:07 AM.