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Grand Strand Politics – Season Two, Episode 15
“Looking Back at North Myrtle Beach’s Mayor Marilyn Hatley”

In this episode, we look back on the extraordinary 24-year mayoral career of Marilyn Hatley, the longest-serving mayor in the history of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and one of the most influential leaders the city has ever known.

Mayor Hatley shepherded North Myrtle Beach through a period of unparalleled growth and transformation. With tenacious courage, political savvy, and a spirit that was always up for a good time, she led with both strength and heart. This wasn’t just leadership from City Hall—it was leadership rooted in community, optimism, and an unshakable belief in what North Myrtle Beach could become.

Her record includes landmark achievements such as the North Myrtle Beach Aquatics Center and the North Myrtle Beach Recreation Facility, along with a long list of infrastructure, tourism, and quality-of-life improvements that helped shape the modern city.

This episode is a tribute to a remarkable public servant and a look at how one mayor’s vision, persistence, and personality helped define an era in North Myrtle Beach history.

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Rebroadcast: A Tribute to Mayor John Rhodes (Five Years Later)

This special rebroadcast revisits our original tribute to former Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, who passed away five years ago this month. The episode opens with a brief new reintroduction before presenting the original program as it first aired in Season One of Bridging the Political Gap—the show that has since evolved into Randal Wallace Presents.

John Rhodes remains one of the most consequential and beloved figures in the history of Myrtle Beach. One of only two men to serve three terms as Mayor—alongside former Mayor Robert M. Grissom—Rhodes helped shape the modern city through steady leadership, vision, and an enduring commitment to public service.

This tribute captures Mayor Rhodes at his best: speaking to audiences across the Grand Strand, engaging citizens, and presiding over the Myrtle Beach City Council throughout his tenure. It is both a historical record and a heartfelt remembrance of a very special man whose influence continues to be felt throughout the city he loved.

We are proud to bring this episode back as a moment of reflection, gratitude, and respect for a mayor whose legacy remains woven into the story of Myrtle Beach.

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Coming Attractions & Housekeeping: What’s Ahead in Season Two of Grand Strand Politics

In this special “housekeeping” episode, we roll out the roadmap for Season Two and preview the major stories and tributes you won’t want to miss.

First, we look ahead to the Mark Kruea Era as he steps into office as Mayor of Myrtle Beach—what it means for the city, the council, and the direction of local leadership. We’ll also announce an upcoming show honoring former North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley, who retired in 2025 after an extraordinary 24 years of service.

This season will also revisit our roots with two important rebroadcasts. We’re bringing back our tribute to Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, who passed away five years ago this month, and re-airing our acclaimed seven-part documentary series on former Myrtle Beach Mayor and WWII war hero Robert J. Hirsch—a deep dive into the life of one of the Greatest Generation’s most remarkable leaders.

That Hirsch series, built from interviews conducted by today’s Mayor Mark Kruea when he served as Myrtle Beach’s Public Information Officer, uniquely features two Myrtle Beach mayors—past and present—telling the story together. We’re reintroducing you to Hirsch and sending you to his new book, The Blonde Bombshell: Robert Joseph Hirsch—One of the Greatest of the Greatest Generation by Colonel David Hunter Wilson, available now on Amazon.

Finally, we tease a major sit-down: an extended interview series with John Bonsignor, former host of Big Talk—the grandfather of this style of episodic political conversation back when these shows lived on public-access television.

It’s a season built on leadership, legacy, and the people who shaped the Grand Strand. Welcome to what’s next.

Here is a link to "The Blonde Bombshell" available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Blonde-Bombshell-greatest-Greatest-Generation-ebook/dp/B0FKD9YHDP