Tommy Lee Waddell of Loris has made a gift in memory of his two sons to the Department of History at Coastal Carolina University. A second-floor conference room in CCU's Brittain Hall has been named the Waddell Conference Room in memory of Christopher Lee Waddell, a 2012 CCU graduate, and Miles Thomas Waddell. In addition, an established history department scholarship will now be called the Waddell History Faculty & Alumni Scholarship.

Christopher Waddell earned a history degree from CCU and was pursuing a second degree to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Miles Waddell was an honor student at Loris High School. The brothers were returning home from Christmas shopping when they were involved in a head-on car accident on Dec. 22, 2014, and died eight days apart. They were 26 and 17, respectively.

"Naming this space is a tribute to both of my sons," said Tommy Waddell. "Christopher graduated from CCU and Miles wanted to go there, too. Both of them were very athletic and loved sports. Christopher had a big influence on Miles, and I feel certain that CCU is where he would have gone once he graduated from Loris High School. It is such an honor for my family and me to be able to make this donation to CCU in memory of Christopher and Miles."