James P. Stevens Sr.

James P. Stevens Sr. (1920-2002) served as senator from Horry County in the S.C. General Assembly from 1955 to 1976. A native of Loris, S.C., Stevens played an influential role in the growth and development of the county during those years. In the early 1970s he initiated the bill that would change Coastal from a two-year junior college to a four-year institution. He was also instrumental in the founding of Horry-Georgetown Technical College.

After service in World War II, Stevens earned a juris doctor degree from the University of South Carolina in 1952.

He died on April 14, 2002.

He was posthumously named an honorary founder of Coastal Carolina University in 2002.