Interviewer
Mildred Allen
Files
Date
1-13-1987
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Duration
38:37
Description
Dr. R. Carthcart Smith came to Wheelwright Auditorium and was interviewed at 4:00 P.M. Bill Edmonds and David Parker assisted. Dr. Smith was an original founder and named the college. He has been very active since its inception. - Mildred Holmes Allen Prince
Subject
Oral History--South Carolina;Coastal Carolina University--History;Horry County (S.C.)--History;Conway (S.C.);Smith, Robert Cathcart, 1914-2001
Rights
Copyright © Coastal Carolina University. For more information contact University Archives and Special Collections at Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC 29526.
Extent
Additional files include a transcript (8.5x11in)
Recommended Citation
Smith, R. Cathcart and Allen, Mildred, "R. Cathcart Smith, oral history interview" (1987). Coastal Founders Oral History Interviews. 15.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/founders/15
Comments
Dr. R. Cathcart Smith recalls the first meeting about Coastal in Conway Library. He talks about the trip to Charleston with Dr. Grice who approved the program on the stipulation that we remain segregated. Each person signed promissory notes of $1000 each to pay the faculty comprised of the Woodhouses (Ed and Margaret) and Bill Casper. Other faculty were Margaret Holliday, Dr. Wayne Rieser (maybe) all in the high school building with about 60 students. The College of Charleston contract was two to four years, but after three years they withdrew, feeling they fulfilled their obligations. George Rogers took over for Woodhouse as director who had poor health. Meetings of the Board of Directors / Trustees of the Coastal Educational Foundation were at Bob's Grill on 501. The Referendum passed by 3 to 4 margin for three mills of tax dollars. Bonnie (Ethel) Cone (1907-2003), a friend of Evelyn Snider came from Charlotte College (now UNC-Charlotte) to encourage the work here. Nicholas Mitchell from USC met with Smith and others from Conway at Chat and Chew Restaurant to start discussions of our affiliation with them. Smith was the first chairman of the group and remained with the CEF. They were called the Commission due to the handling of tax dollars for legal purposes. Since 1959 or 1960 both groups existed and he chaired both at their inceptions. He was Vice Chair of the State Board of Education and about 1970 he started with the South Carolina Higher Education Commission mainly in medical education and was chair there for six years until 1976. He discussed independence issues. Dr. Smith continues to talk about the USC system and its political clout including that of the local Legislative Delegation. He credits E. Craig Wall with foresight to see the growth of this area. Dr. Smith hopes that football does not get more attention. He recalls Tom Jones, USC President, who came to break ground for the Atheneum building. It was BBQ under a tent with a few hundred attendees. Nicholas Mitchell from USC was a difficult character to get along with. Parks Coble, Superintendent of Horry County Schools, was supportive in the early years. He talks about Jimmy Johnson and his attendance at Coastal. He hopes that entrance requirements will tighten up (no open enrollment). He believes not everyone needs a college education. Funded in part by the Horry County Higher Education Commission.