Claude Cook’s Legacy Lives On

The late Claude Cook loved Jeff Davis County and its people. And during the millionaires’ life he performed countless numbers of benevolent givings that benefited thousands of people in Jeff Davis County and positively affected the lives of every citizen in the county.
Mr. Cook’s benevolence has continued for decades after his death through the Claude P. Cook Charitable Trust, now administered by his daughter, Saralyn Sears, her son and daughter, Bobby Sears and Ashley Morris, and her son-in-law, John Morris.
The latest and most substantial gift that Claude Cook gave to the county’s citizens was a $3.4 million donation to complete the Jeff Davis County Law Enforcement Center, a fact that was revealed last Thursday at the grand opening and open house at the new facility.
Sheriff Preston Bohannon said the 18,452 square foot administration building is completely paid for with funds from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, better known as SPLOST, together with the Cook Charitable Trust’s $3.4 million. Bohannon said the projected cost of the administration building was $5 million.
The 16,717 square foot jail portion of the facility, with a projected cost of $5.5 million, will be paid for through additional SPLOST funds.
At Thursday’s grand opening, the Sheriff emphasized that the entire project was being paid for without any property tax funds being used, saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“Property taxes will not but used for anything,” Sheriff Bohannon said during an interview Monday, adding that the entire $10.5 million project will come in $250,000 under budget.
The cost of the project ballooned over the years of planning because of a meteoric rise in construction costs while the Jeff Davis County Commission was putting aside SPLOST funds for the project.
“The inflation outgrew the SPLOST proceeds,” the Sheriff said, adding that the Cook Charitable Trust funds saved the day for county taxpayers.
At Thursday’s grand opening, featured speaker Kennith McLeod emphasized the essential role Mr. Cook’s Charitable Trust played in getting the project completed.
He also shared that the Beasley Group and Beasley Forest Products had also played a pivotal role with the completion of the facility.
And Sheriff Bohannon complimented Chief Deputy Keith Rea for his work overseeing the construction of the building, telling him, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
A large crowd attended the grand opening and ribbon cutting, following which the crowd toured the facility.
County Commission Chairman Hank Hobbs also spoke at the grand opening and made a point to recognize Brad Crews, who was chairman of the County Commission at the time the law enforcement center project first got underway.