On the evening of July 23, 1954, a group of citizens met in the Horry County Memorial Library to discuss a daring proposal – the creation of a local college. The group soon becomes a nonprofit organization, the Coastal Educational Foundation, Inc. Edward Woodhouse begins his service as director of Coastal Carolina Junior College, taking the helm just nine days prior to the first day of classes on Sept. 20, 1954, when Coastal Carolina Junior College opened as a branch of the College of Charleston. Fifty-three students are enrolled, taught by a handful of part-time faculty, with classes meeting after hours in Conway High School (pictured right).