The City of Conway dedicated a new dock in memory of Judge O.A. “Rock” Rankin.

The 100-foot dock is located on the Waccamaw River in front of the Bonfire Taqueria restaurant and allows boaters to “tie up” their boats and spend the day in Conway.

“We are extremely blessed to have a tight family unit, and that’s what our father preached to us as well. The community knows that and the city knows that, and we are just so proud to be a part of that community,” says Senator Luke Rankin, the son of Judge Rankin.

Taylor Newell, with the City of Conway, says Rankin passed away on April 16, 2014 after decades of working in the city. He moved to Conway in 1952 to practice law. In 1975, Rankin became an Horry County Judge. He later served as a Special Circuit Judge until 1979, when he returned to a private law practice. Rankin was a member of the First Baptist Church of Conway, President of the Conway Rotary Club and Elk’s Club, and chairman of the Horry County Democratic Party for over a decade. 

Newell also says Judge Rankin was known as a “people person.” “While serving as judge, he would encourage jurors to bring food from home to share with the fellow jurors.”