Scott Godfrey is a long-time resident of Morro Bay, California, a scenic coastal town located along California’s Central Coast. Godfrey has become a well-known figure in the Morro Bay community over the years due to his various business ventures, philanthropic efforts, and involvement in local issues and events.
Background and Early Life
Scott Godfrey was born in 1965 in San Luis Obispo, California, a larger city located just 15 miles from Morro Bay. Godfrey spent his childhood in San Luis Obispo before moving to Morro Bay upon graduating high school in the early 1980s.
Godfrey quickly became enamored with the small, laidback vibe of Morro Bay. The town’s picturesque location along the Pacific Ocean captured Godfrey’s imagination and heart. He soon decided to plant roots in Morro Bay and embarked on his professional career there.
Entrepreneurial Pursuits
Scott Godfrey displayed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. Shortly after moving to Morro Bay, Godfrey opened up a small retail shop selling nautical clothing and gear. His store, Ocean Threads, reflected Morro Bay’s intimate connection with the sea.
Ocean Threads proved a success, and Godfrey expanded to open up additional retail locations in Cayucos and Cambria, two other small coastal towns nearby. Godfrey ran Ocean Threads for over 15 years before selling the business.
Godfrey remained committed to Morro Bay’s local business community. He co-founded a technology firm providing IT services to small businesses throughout the Central Coast region.
In the early 2010s, Godfrey returned to his roots by starting up a new retail business in Morro Bay focused on surfing and fishing merchandise. His current shop, Tide & Tackle, has proven popular among locals and tourists alike.
Community Leadership
Beyond his business pursuits, Scott Godfrey has shown a passion for actively improving the Morro Bay community. He has taken on leadership roles in several key local organizations over the years.
From 2002 to 2005, Godfrey served as a city council member for Morro Bay. As part of the city council, Godfrey advocated for supporting small businesses and maintaining Morro Bay’s small town charm. He worked to upgrade critical infrastructure around the town’s scenic Embarcadero district.
Godfrey later served for over a decade on the board of the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce. He played an instrumental role in growing the chamber’s visibility and improving connections between local businesses. Godfrey worked diligently to promote Morro Bay as an appealing destination for visitors and companies.
His most recent community leadership position has been as chairman of the Morro Bay Harbor Advisory Board since 2018. In this capacity, Godfrey has been deeply involved in discussions and decisions related to the Morro Bay Harbor, which serves both recreational and commercial vessels. Godfrey has focused on ensuring the harbor continues meeting the diverse needs of the town.
Environmental Advocacy
With Morro Bay’s identity intrinsically tied to its natural setting along the coast, Scott Godfrey has prioritized environmental advocacy work for many years. He has collaborated on conservation initiatives with various nonprofit groups in the area.
Godfrey played a central role in establishing the annual Morro Bay Bird Festival, one of the town’s signature events attracting birding enthusiasts from across the country. The festival has raised over $500,000 for bird habitat conservation efforts in Morro Bay.
From 2006 to 2010, Godfrey sat on the board of the Morro Coast Audubon Society. He remains an active member of the organization today. Godfrey has worked closely with Audubon staff on habitat restoration projects in sensitive ecosystems around Morro Bay.
In 2016, Godfrey founded the Morro Bay Wildlife Rescue Center, which rehabilitates and cares for injured birds and small mammals. The wildlife center relies on volunteers and donations to fund its important operations. As of late 2022, the center has treated over 300 injured animals.
Philanthropy
Giving back to the community has always been a top priority for Scott Godfrey. He has supported numerous Morro Bay nonprofits over the years through both financial contributions and volunteering.
When the Morro Bay Community Pool encountered major repair needs and possible closure in the late 1990s, Godfrey spearheaded extensive fundraising efforts including an annual swim-a-thon event. His work helped raise over $400,000 to complete necessary upgrades and keep the treasured community pool open.
Godfrey has also been a steadfast supporter of public education in Morro Bay. He established scholarships for Morro Bay High School students that have provided over $100,000 in total financial assistance to date. Teachers at local schools have frequently praised Godfrey’s generosity.
In addition, Godfrey has volunteered his time and resources to assist the Morro Bay Fire Department, Morro Bay Skate Park, Morro Bay Little League, Morro Bay Girls Softball, and countless other community organizations over the years. His philanthropy reflects his deep devotion to Morro Bay.
Interests and Hobbies
When he finds spare time outside his business and community commitments, Scott Godfrey enjoys taking advantage of the many outdoor activities offered along the Central Coast.
Godfrey has a particular passion for sports fishing. He often spends mornings and weekends fishing for halibut, rockfish and salmon in the waters off Morro Bay. Godfrey participates in local fishing tournaments where he has won several awards over the years.
Staying active is also important for Godfrey. He regularly surfs at the popular Morro Strand State Beach, keeping up skills he first learned as a teenager. Even in his late 50s, Godfrey still manages to ride waves with the younger crowds drawn to Morro Bay’s good surf.
Beyond ocean activities, Godfrey likes hiking and trail running within state parks and wilderness areas located further inland along the coast. He enjoys accessing breathtaking ocean views from high ridgelines stretching across San Luis Obispo County.
When relaxing at home, Godfrey has become an avid chess player. He frequently competes in local chess tournaments and has won Morro Bay’s annual chess championship multiple times.
Marriage and Family
Scott Godfrey met his future wife, Elizabeth, while both were students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the early 1980s. They started dating shortly after Godfrey moved to Morro Bay following college. The couple got married in a small ceremony in Morro Bay in 1987.
Scott and Elizabeth Godfrey went on to have three children – two daughters and one son born between 1990 and 1998. The Godfreys have embraced the enriching experience of raising their family in the tight-knit community of Morro Bay.
All three Godfrey children attended local Morro Bay schools growing up. Scott coached many of their youth sports teams over the years. He passed on his passions for surfing and fishing during frequent family trips to the ocean.
As young adults, the Godfrey children have pursued careers tied to the Central Coast region their father loves. The eldest daughter is a nurse at French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo. The younger daughter works in finance at MindBody, a software firm headquartered in San Luis Obispo. Godfrey’s son runs a kayak tour business offering trips for visitors in Morro Bay.
Scott Godfrey has cherished getting to watch his children grow up and give back to the Morro Bay community he cares so deeply about. Their family exemplifies the deep roots and connections found all around this quintessential coastal town.
Later Life and Legacy
Now in his late 50s, Scott Godfrey continues to demonstrate the same entrepreneurial spirit, leadership abilities, and civic pride that have defined so much of his life in Morro Bay.
After selling his prior retail business in the 2010s, Godfrey shifted his focus to commercial real estate investment around San Luis Obispo County. He now owns and manages several mixed-use properties housing small businesses in Morro Bay, Cayucos and Cambria.
Godfrey remains actively involved with the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce, Morro Bay Harbor Advisory Board, and key environmental nonprofits. He also continues supporting local youth sports, education, and the arts through financial contributions.
Scott Godfrey has won numerous awards and accolades over the years recognizing his business success and community impact. In 2022, he was honored as Morro Bay’s Citizen of the Year.
While he has no imminent plans for retirement, Godfrey has begun mapping out plans to ensure his businesses and properties help sustain and improve Morro Bay for future generations. He aims to create a lasting legacy befitting somebody who has become such an iconic figure in this charming coastal town.
When residents and visitors think of Morro Bay, the name Scott Godfrey immediately comes top of mind. His entrepreneurship has created jobs and commerce. His philanthropy and advocacy have bettered community organizations and infrastructure. And his passion for this special town is absolutely contagious to anybody who has the chance to meet him.
Scott Godfrey reflects the friendly, compassionate, and spirited culture that defines Morro Bay. It remains his true home and the place he hopes to keep contributing to in any way possible for years to come. Godfrey’s legacy will surely be one of the driving forces that helps Morro Bay continue thriving as a beloved community along California’s picturesque Central Coast.
Conclusion
Scott Godfrey has made a huge impact on the community of Morro Bay through his various businesses, leadership roles, philanthropic efforts, and other contributions over the past four decades. He exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit, small town pride, and passion for the ocean that characterizes Morro Bay. Godfrey has become an iconic figure who has shaped the economic and civic development of Morro Bay since moving there after college in the 1980s. As he enters his later life, Godfrey plans to ensure his legacy benefits Morro Bay for generations to come. He has cemented his status as one of Morro Bay’s most beloved residents.