During the Coastal Carolina University board of trustees meeting today, President David A. DeCenzo read a resolution that recognized the service of trustee Larry Lyles, who is retiring from the board. To honor his 26 years of service, the board approved a motion to allow him to serve as the acting chairman of the meeting.

"He has contributed significantly to the establishment of Coastal Carolina University's cultural traditions and values through his role in selecting the University motto, Ex libertate veritas ("From Liberty, Truth"); the University seal; and the University colors (teal and bronze)," reads the resolution.

Lyles has been a board member since 1993. He made the motion in 1998 to accept the recommendation of the football feasibility report and served as vice chair of the board from 2001-2005. He is the president of Carolina Beer Co. Inc.

First Lady Terri DeCenzo also recognized the service of Lyles' wife, Miriam, and announced that Women in Philanthropy and Leadership will name a $1,000 scholarship in her honor that will be awarded to a student next year.

The board welcomed incoming board member Lee Belcher, a 2008 graduate of CCU, who is employed by Synovus Bank in Columbia. "It's an honor to be here," he said. "I am looking forward to coming in and working hard to continue the great success this board has seen over the past many years." Belcher joins the board in July.

The board approved the hiring with tenure of Claudia Bornholdt, the incoming dean of the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, effective July 1. Bornholdt is the chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literature at the Catholic University of America. She earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University at Bloomington in 2001. The board also approved the promotion of Allison Faix to librarian.

The board approved a memorandum of understanding between the City of Myrtle Beach Police Department and the University that allows CCU Department of Public Safety officers to assist the city during the Memorial Day Weekend Atlantic Bikefest scheduled May 24-27. Eleven lease agreements or renewals were also approved by the board at the meeting.

Chairman of the Board William Biggs was re-elected chairman, Delan Stevens was elected vice chair, and Charles Lewis was re-elected secretary-treasurer. The chair and vice chair serve two-year terms, and the secretary-treasurer serves a one-year term.