CCU to hold Celebration of Life in remembrance of President Emeritus Ronald R. Ingle
Ingle, who passed away on Jan. 18, 2023, became CCU’s first president on July 1, 1993, after the institution gained its status as an independent, public university. He served as president until May 7, 2007. Ingle originally joined the institution in 1988 when it was known as USC Coastal Carolina College, serving as vice chancellor for academic affairs and then as chancellor (1992-93).
His 14-year presidency was a period of remarkable institutional growth: enrollment doubled to more than 8,000 students, campus residence halls expanded to accommodate 2,200 students, international programs were expanded, and academic accolades and major grants became realities. To meet the challenges of the University’s burgeoning growth, Ingle led a $75 million capital expansion that increased campus space by more than 30 percent. By the end of his tenure as president, the economic impact of the University reached $225 million per year.
Ingle guided the establishment of CCU’s traditions – the University seal, mace, and alma mater. He orchestrated the 2003 launch of Chanticleer football, which has brought unprecedented exposure to the University.
Ingle was recognized as an Honorary Founder of the University in 2006. The board of trustees voted to rename the Waccamaw residence hall – Ronald R. Ingle Hall – in his honor; the dedication was held in April 2011. On April 13, 2023, CCU dedicated the Ronald R. Ingle Memorial Oak, which serves as the site of the University’s Chanticleer Celebration of Life annual event that remembers the students, faculty, and staff who have passed away.
Ingle and his wife, Judy, who was a curriculum coordinator and assistant principal in the Georgetown County School District, have always been steadfast advocates of education. In 2005, they established the Ron and Judy Ingle Endowed Scholarship for Dependent Children or Grandchildren of Coastal Carolina University Faculty and Staff, to encourage the pursuit of higher education within the University community.