The Coastal Carolina University Oral History Project

Begun in 2016 with the creation of the CCU History Project, this collection of oral history interviews features interviewees who made significant contributions to the development and progress of the University. This collection therefore serves as a resource that enriches the historical perspectives within the university archives.

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William H. Alford, oral history interview

William H. Alford and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

William H. "Billy" Alford is an alumnus of Coastal Carolina College with a degree in political science. He served in Vietnam in the United States Marine Corps. Later, he also served in many key leadership positions in the governance of and support for Coastal Carolina University. He was a member of the Horry County Higher Education Commission and played an important role in the establishment of Coastal becoming an independent SC public institution in 1993. He served as chairman of the CCU Board of Trustees and also of the Coastal Educational Foundation. For these and other leadership roles he was named an honorary founder of Coastal Carolina University in 1999 and was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service from Coastal Carolina University in May 2017.
Eugene "Gene" Collins, oral history interview

E. Eugene "Gene" Collins and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Collins, a long-time Coastal Carolina University computer science and math faculty member talks about education, his 40-plus year teaching career at Coastal, serving on committees and contributing to campus life, as well as his views on Coastal's growth and history.
David A. DeCenzo, oral history interview

David A. DeCenzo and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Dr. David A. DeCenzo was the second President of Coastal Carolina University, serving from 2007 to 2020. As president, Dr. DeCenzo implemented a comprehensive strategic planning process, fiscal accountability through policy and practice, and promoted assessment and transparency throughout the University. During his tenure, the academic program expanded from 39 to 70 undergraduate degree programs. At the graduate level, the University offered 17 master's degree programs, two educational specialist programs, and a Ph.D. DeCenzo began his tenure at Coastal Carolina University in 2002 when he became dean of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration, a position he held until 2006 when he was then named provost of the University. DeCenzo's teaching and research interests focused on management, human resource management and organizational behavior. He is the author or co-author of nearly 30 textbooks. As an experienced industry consultant, corporate trainer and public speaker, he served a wide variety of business and industrial clients. DeCenzo retired from Coastal in December 2020. For his 13 years of leadership and service, the Board of Trustees granted him the title of President Emeritus of Coastal Carolina University. Subsequently, a three-story student housing building was named DeCenzo Hall in honor of his service and his wife’s service to the university.
Edgar L. Dyer, III, oral history interview

Edgar L. Dyer III and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Longtime CCU professor and administrator, Eddie Dyer joined the political science faculty in 1976 and held many key administrative positions; executive vice president, vice president of university relations, executive director of the Coastal Educational Foundation, interim director of athletics and interim dean of the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. Dyer recalls his decision to accept his initial Coastal position, his beginning teaching years and his many roles on campus and in the community. He discusses the campus climate and the many changes he observed over his 40+ years' tenure at the institution.
Ronald G. Eaglin, oral history interview

Ronald G. Eaglin and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Dr. Ronald G. Eaglin was Chancellor of the University of South Carolina – Coastal Carolina College from 1985 to 1992. Dr. Eaglin was chosen by then President of the University of South Carolina, Dr. James Holderman to lead the Coastal campus. Eaglin had previously served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs from 1974-1983 at the USC- Spartanburg campus, now called USC-Upstate. Prior to his career at the University of South Carolina, Eaglin held many collegiate and higher education positions. He served as the regional director of the Southeast office of the American College Testing Program from 1970 – 1974. He was assistant dean of students at the University of Nebraska, assistant director of residence halls at University of Utah and coordinator for group housing at southern Illinois University. His time at Coastal Carolina played an important pivotal role in Coastal’s independence from the University of South Carolina.
J. Ken East, Jr., oral history interview

J. Ken East Jr. and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Son of JK East, designated founder of Coastal Carolina College, Ken East, Jr. discusses his father's accomplishments in South Carolina education and his devotion to establishing higher education in Horry County. East, Jr. recounts his father's character and determination to improve all levels of education for all South Carolinians.
Rodney O. Gragg, oral history interview

Rodney O. Gragg and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Rod Gragg discusses his broadcast career with several media outlets. He talks about his experiences at Coastal, first as a student and much later his return to campus to establish its first department for public relations. He reviews the major Coastal news stories of that time (1980s - early 2000s), including the residence halls and independence from USC as well as the growth of the region.
Matt Hogue, oral history interview

Matthew L. Hogue and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Matt Hogue joined Coastal in 1997 and served in different roles in Athletics and in the Office of University Communications, where he led CCU's marketing and trademark licensing efforts as associate vice president of Marketing. He was later named Director of Athletics and then named vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics and University Recreation at CCU. Hogue was well known for his 17-year stint as the “Voice of the Chanticleers” on the Chanticleers sports network. A 25-year broadcast veteran, Hogue built a diverse play-by-play resume that includes stints with USC, Gamecock Radio Network, Minor League Baseball, and appearances on regional TV, including FoxSports.net, Sports South and ESPN properties. He also served as the broadcast voice of the Big South Conference basketball TV package. He currently serves as Director of the Center for Sports Broadcasting in the Communication, Media and Culture Department within the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, a position he began in 2024.
Anne Trainer Monk, oral history interview

Anne Trainer Monk and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Monk describes her student life at Coastal and her early careers in Columbia, SC and Loris, SC. Her return to Coastal to lead the public information office experienced challenges of campus growth and expanded communications. Her memorable CCU news stories from early 1990s to 2015 are discussed.
Clark B. Parker, oral history interview

Clark B. Parker and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Parker, a Coastal alumnus, served as a CCU Board member from 1993 - 2008 including two terms as Chair. He discusses his years as a student at Coastal, meeting his wife, Marcia (a Coastal student) and their campus jobs in athletics. He recounts his statewide work with many others for Coastal's independence from USC, its hurdles and challenges. Parker is an honorary founder of CCU. The second campus building carries his and his wife's names, the Clark and Marcia Parker Atheneum Hall Alumni Center in 2017.
Joyce B. Parker, oral history interview

Joyce B. Parker and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Joyce Parker describes her times in the classroom as a Coastal English professor from the 60s to the 90s and on the stage as a singer and actor for local theater venues and in university music events. She recalls her colleagues in the School of Humanities and their interactions.
Marshall Parker, oral history interview

Marshall E. Parker and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Marshall Parker reviews his many positions at Coastal, including Director of the Graduate Regional Studies program, the director of continuing education, professor of physical education and head coach of the men's tennis team. He reflects on the cultural changes at Coastal and his passion for teaching students.
Geoffrey Parsons, Oral history interview

Geoffrey Parsons and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Known as Coastal's International Ambassador, Parsons, who was a graduate student at Coastal in 1987, held positions in international programs including Director of International Programs when new exchange programs and travel opportunities expanded for Coastal students. Parsons discusses his work at Coastal and his global travels with students and faculty.
Daniel A. Selwa, oral history interview

Daniel L. Selwa and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Professor Emeritus of Geography, Selwa was the longest serving Chair of a CCU department (Politics and Geography). He also served as athletic director and head baseball coach and men's basketball coach. He discusses his interview at Coastal, his subsequent work at Coastal from the early 1970s to his retirement in 2006. His 40+ year career at Coastal is expressed through the many campus and educational changes.
Patricia Singleton-Young, oral history interview

Patricia Singleton-Young and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

An actively involved Coastal student, Singleton-Young began (and ended) her 35+-year professional career at Coastal in a variety of student services areas, including Greek life, career services and financial aid. She was the first African-American Director of Student Activities (and later Multi-cultural Student Services) at Coastal. Beloved by students, her personal approach to caring for students gained her a lasting reputation for "Feeling the Teal". In 2019, a residence hall was named in her honor.
Robert W. Squatriglia, oral history interview, Part One

Robert W. Squatriglia and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Known as "Dr. Bob", Squatriglia contributed to Coastal's growth through his position as Vice President for Student Affairs at Coastal for over three decades. He tells about his meeting Dr. Singleton (Coastal Chancellor), his early years at Coastal and establishing a student center and the first residence halls on campus. His accomplishments included establishing minority student relations, an honors convocation, veterans affairs / association, numerous student awards and honors, and dealing effectively in many ways with the growth of the campus and student enrollment.
Robert W. Squatriglia, oral history interview, Part Two

Robert W. Squatriglia and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

Squatriglia expands on his discussions in his earlier interview (Feb 9, 2016) , providing more details and statistics on the achievements of Student Affairs and the campus overall during his time at Coastal.
John M. Vaught, III, oral history interview

John M. Vaught III and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

John Marion "Johnny" Vaught, III has contributed in many ways to higher education in South Carolina, earning both a baccalaureate and a master's degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He began working in industry for a time before teaching in the South Carolina Technical College System, first at Midlands Tech and then at Horry-Georgetown Technical College for more than three decades. His service on the Horry County Higher Education Commission demonstrated good stewardship of the county tax millage designated for higher education. To further support Coastal Carolina University's growth, he advocated for its use of valuable real estate in the Atlantic Business Center, where Coastal’s East Campus is now located. As a diligent public servant, he served in the Conway Chamber of Commerce, the Waccamaw Sertoma Club, and the Horry County Council to help improve life for residents of Horry County. He continues to work towards better road conditions and infrastructure in the county.
Stephen H. West, oral history interview

Stephen H. West and Charmaine B. Tomczyk

West discusses his early careers and then time at Coastal as a student in the late 1960s and later as a faculty member in the department of math and computer science. He remembers many of his teachers and colleagues and focuses on his love of teaching math.