City of Goose Creek

Crowfield Golf Club part time front desk assistant Rick Rose knows well the challenges that come with running a City. For most of the past decade, that's exactly what he did.

Rick was the City Manager of Clayton, Ohio from 2013 to 2019. The job capped a nearly 40-year public service career.

Rick began his career in public service with the Springfield, Ohio, Police Department in 1980. He retired as a Police Captain in 2003. From there, he went to nearby Clayton, where he became the Public Safety Director for Police and Fire. After serving in that capacity for 10 years, he threw his hat in the ring for the City's top job.

"I was fortunate enough to become City Manager for the next six-and-a-half years, starting in 2013,” he said.

Rick said the task of running a City is a challenging and busy one, but that he enjoyed every minute of it.  Still, when he retired in 2019, Rick told friends that he planned to never work again … “unless I get bored and work for a golf course,” he said with a laugh.

Luckily for the City of Goose Creek, that’s exactly what happened. After he and his wife moved to South Carolina’s Lowcountry earlier this year, it did not take Rick long to look for a fun way to spend his days. He began to visit area golf courses, and as soon as he spent a day at Crowfield, he was sold.

“Crowfield is well run, the citizens should be happy that there is such a nice amenity that we can put our names to,” he said. “They've done a really nice job here. When I first came here , I could see that they take care of the course. (Crowfield Golf Club General Manager Troy Sanders) was so personable ... I looked at three other places and didn't look any further. I told Troy, ‘Hey, I'm retired and can fill in when I need to.’”

Troy did not hesitate to hire Rick, who he says has been an excellent addition.

Rick still finds time to play golf – a hobby that he started in earnest while he was a City Manager. Like the City of Goose Creek, Clayton, Oh., also operates a golf course. “I usually play Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I bring my son out every once in a while,” he said. “I've enjoyed my time here and plan on being here quite a while.”

Rick said he recently met Goose Creek Police Chief LJ Roscoe. “I’m very impressed with her,” he said. He has not yet met City Administrator Natalie Zeigler, but said he would like to do that soon. “I doubt she needs any help from me,” he said when asked if he had any advice for our City Administrator. “But I do know how tough that job can be."

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