Chad M. Beaty Memorial Bell Tower nearly complete
They called him brother, but Chad Michael Beaty was more than that. And in an effort to celebrate Beaty’s life and contributions to Coastal Carolina University, Pi Kappa Phi fraternity has planned a memorial, the Chad M. Beaty Memorial Bell Tower, in his honor.The fraternity raised more than $26,000 to construct a memorial and purchase a bell. The bell, made in 1893, belonged to a church in Charleston, which is the founding city of the national fraternity.
The memorial, located near the new Adkins Field House, will be completed this summer. The bell, however, will not be installed until November, the 15th anniversary of the fraternity. A dedication ceremony in planned for Nov. 5.
Beaty was killed in an automobile accident on Feb. 9, 1995. But he is remembered by many for his contributions to CCU’s campus, and, as founder of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University, his legacy lives on through a number of awards and scholarships including the Coastal Carolina University Student Government Association’s Chad M. Beaty Senator of the Year Award, the South Carolina Student Legislature Chad M. Beaty Award and the Eta Pi Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Chad M. Beaty Leadership Award, and the Chad M. Beaty Academic Scholarship.
In 1996, the National Fraternity, on a motion from the Eta Pi Chapter, recognized Beaty as the founder of the Eta Pi Chapter and recognized him for his service to Pi Kappa Phi. In 2002, another resolution by the Eta Pi Chapter was passed authorizing the posthumously initiation of Chad Beaty as the 124th initiate of the Eta Pi Chapter.
