Fred Cavanaugh, who served has Mayor of Aiken for 24 years has passed away. According to our news partner, WJBF, Cavanaugh died at his home on Wednesday night.
Aiken’s current Mayor, Rick Osbon released the following statement:
“Aiken has lost a friend and a champion in Mayor Fred Cavanaugh. The impact the Mayor had on our City will be recognized for generations to come. His leadership and ability to bring people together made him a special person. He was a kind and quiet leader whose words carried much weight and were respected by all. His legacy will forever be remembered through the Character First initiative and Aiken’s recognition as an All-America City.
“He was a mentor to me, and I will always be grateful for his friendship. The City of Aiken mourns his loss and sends condolences and prayers to the Cavanaugh family.”
The City Of Aiken also released the following statement from Councilwoman Lessie Price:
“I served with Mayor Cavanaugh for 28 years and never had an unpleasant moment with him. I also worked with him at Savannah River Site and he transferred his integrity from the workplace to governing. We made many strides under his leadership. With his advocacy for the Capital Projects Sales Tax and the Hospitality Tax, our community saw many improvements to our quality of life. He was also a champion for improvements to the entire City, including the Northside and the potential of our Aiken Regional Airport. Mayor Cavanaugh was a person of vision and it was reflected in the many innovations and recognitions with multiple Municipal Achievement Awards. On a personal note, he was close to my family and regularly asked about my children. He was a God-fearing man whose legacy will continue to live on.”
Cavanaugh served as Mayor of Aiken from 1991 until 2015. Funeral arrangements are will be announced at a later date by George Funeral Home.
