2002 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
James Johnson is the recipient of the 2002 Distinguished Alumnus Award, an annual honor recognizing alumni who have made significant contributions to their professions and their communities.

James Johnson (right), recipient of the 2002 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award, with Richard Weldon, presifent of Coastal's Alumni Association.

Johnson, who retired last year as president of Dargan Construction Company after 44 years with the organization, attended Coastal from 1957 to 1959 and has been one of the institution’s most steadfast supporters. His service to Coastal has included chairing the Board of Trustees, the Higher Education Commission and the Coastal Educational Foundation, Inc. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991 and received the Coastal Carolina University Founders’ Medallion in 1996.

Throughout his career, Johnson has been a tireless civic leader on behalf of many Horry County organizations, including the United Way of Horry County, the Conway Hospital Foundation, the Horry County Shelter Home, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the Grand Strand Family Y.M.C.A., the Salvation Army, Trinity Methodist Church in Conway and many others.

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2002 Alumni of the Year
John Bailey, MD., College of Natural and Applied Sciences
Dr. Bailey was a pre-med major at Coastal Carolina University and graduated in 1984. He completed his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina in 1989. He subsequently completed his internship and residency at the Medical University, receiving the Outstanding Residency award in 1993. Bailey is an associate of Conway Anesthesiology at Conway Hospital. He recently completed the Chicago Marathon for the Leukemia Society. He and his wife April have three children: John, Katelyn and Jennifer Ryan.

Scott Harrelson, E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration
A 1986 marketing graduate, Harrelson has led a successful career as an entrepreneur and restaurateur. He is probably best known as the owner-proprietor of Thoroughbreds Restaurant in Myrtle Beach. A key supporter of Coastal’s resort tourism management program, Harrelson is a frequent guest speaker at the Wall College of Business. He is also involved in the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association and other area civic and tourism organizations.

Anita Williams Huggins, Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts
Huggins graduated magna cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in English and secondary education in 1998. She is a sixth-grade English teacher at Fort Johnson Middle School in the Charleston County School District, where she has twice been named Teacher of the Year. She serves as director of summer school and summer reading programs, and is a frequent guest lecturer at The Citadel and the College of Charleston. While a student at Coastal, she was named Outstanding Student of the Year in both English and secondary education. In 2001, she was one of five finalists for Teacher of the Year in the Charleston County School District.

Mark Roach, College of Education
Roach earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Coastal in 1984 and a master’s degree in sports management in 1993 from the United States Sports Academy. He is the coordinator of athletics and physical education for Horry County Schools and is responsible for Athletic Facility Project, a $6.5 million athletic capital improvements and field maintenance plan. Roach has served as Carolina Forest High School athletic director, head baseball coach at Socastee High School and Sumter High School, and head baseball/basketball coach at Wilson Hall. He and his wife Mary Beth live in Myrtle Beach with their two sons, Brandon and Casey.

Paul Sweeney, School of Continuing Studies
Sweeney graduated magna cum laude in 2000, earning a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. He is a child/elder abuse investigator for the City of North Myrtle Beach and serves as training coordinator for the South Carolina Juvenile Officers Association. He also works as a trainer with the Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services Investigators for the Department of Social Services and is the law enforcement representative with the Department of Juvenile Justice. Sweeney is an active member of the Advisory Committee for the School of Continuing Studies and has been an effective ambassador for Coastal’s interdisciplinary studies program.

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Coastal Carolina University Alumni Association Board of Directors

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Alumni University Center plans announced
Coastal President Ronald R. Ingle has announced plans to establish an alumni house on campus. Coastal’s Alumni University Center will be located in the building now occupied by the Department of Public Safety.

The starting date for refitting the building for an Alumni Center is contingent on raising funds for renovations and on relocating the Department of Public Safety to the present Athletic Administration building, according to Alumni President Richard Weldon.

“This is an appropriate location because the building was the first student center on campus back in the 1960s,” said Weldon. “It is particularly timely and exciting, as we move closer to our first football game, that alumni will have a place on campus devoted to them.”
For more information, call (843) 349-2586.

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Coastal Platinum Plus Mastercard
The Coastal Carolina University Alumni Association is offering the Platinum Plus credit card, a no annual fee MasterCard program that provides benefits, service, worldwide acceptance and convenience.

The card proudly displays Coastal’s logo and offers special privileges for Alumni Association members. Credit lines are individually established to ensure that qualified applicants receive the maximum in purchasing power – up to $100,000 for Platinum Plus customers. Alumni Association cardholders can take advantage of 24-hour customer service, emergency card replacement, quick credit-line increases and cash advance access at more than 300,000 automated teller machines worldwide. Other benefits to cardholders include fraud protection services, supplemental auto rental collision damage deductible coverage, and $1 million common carrier travel accident insurance.

The card is issued by MBNA America Bank, N.A., the nation’s leading issuer of affinity credit cards. To apply for the Coastal Carolina University Platinum Plus credit card, please call (877) 518-9007 and mention priority code M4RW.

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Be an area contact
Coastal’s Office of Alumni Affairs is looking for Coastal alumni who are willing to serve as contact liaisons for their geographic area of residence. Whether you live in Washington, D.C., or Washington state, you can help alumni find ways to network. Contacts will work with the Alumni Office to plan area events, provide information to alumni new to your area, and assist with recruitment. If you are interested in becoming an area contact, or if you have questions about it, contact Carrie Herrington at alumni@coastal.edu or call (843) 349-2586.

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1954 Society fall 2001 inductees
The following December 2001 graduates are the newest members to be inducted into Coastal’s 1954 Society. To be a member of the 1954 Society, seniors must give an initial gift of at least $19.54 during their final year at Coastal and must pledge that amount or more annually for two consecutive years after graduation. Contributions are added to the Annual Fund.

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New alumni Web pages to feature campus groups
Coastal’s Web site has been expanded to include new pages devoted to helping alumni keep in touch. The “Special Interest Groups” page is designed for alumni who were members of extracurricular clubs and organizations at Coastal to keep in contact with fellow members after graduation. Groups represented include Greek organizations, honor societies, leadership societies, student activities groups and academic colleges. The Web site is located at www.coastal.edu/advancement/alumniassoc-groups.html.

For more information or to serve as a Special Interest Group liaison, contact the Office of Alumni Affairs at alumni@coastal.edu or call (843) 349-2586.

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