Oct. 24, 2014
News-Leader Article |
Obituary
SPRINGFIELD - Bill O'Neill, who was a mainstay on the Missouri State University campus in Springfield for nearly 40 years, passed away Friday after a recent bout with cancer.
"Our condolences go out to his wife Ina and the O'Neill family," said Missouri State Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. "Bill was a fixture in our department and was respected by his former players who appreciated his dedication to them and the university."
O'Neill, 71, retired in the summer of 2008 after working for 16 seasons as an assistant football coach on the staffs of head coaches Don Cross and Rich Johanningmeier. He added the duties of an assistant director of athletics in 1976 and was promoted to associate director in 1991. In his administrative post, he had responsibilities for supervising sports, facilities, scheduling and working with a number of special events hosted by the University.
He was inducted into the Missouri State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009 and was present for the dedication of the Bill O'Neill Gateway at Robert W. Plaster Stadium on Sept. 13 when the Bears took the field for the first time this fall at the newly-renovated stadium. The Bill O'Neill Way, that includes the gateway and locker room plaque, now stands as a lasting tribute to O'Neill.
"I'm so happy Coach was able to see and participate in the dedication of the Bill O'Neill Way at Plaster Stadium this fall," Moats said. "This tribute will be there for all those who played for him and all those who will play in our program in the future. He was so proud of the new facilities and his affiliations with Missouri State. He is and always will be a Bear."
Current Bears head coach Terry Allen noted his appreciation for O'Neill and everything he has done for Missouri State football over the years.
"We're just so grateful for everything Bill contributed to our program over the years," Allen said. "He spent a lifetime committed to Bears football and MSU athletics, and he will be dearly missed."
The Chicago native was honored in 2008 with the naming of the William J. O'Neill Endowed Athletic Scholarship and also the Bill O'Neill Golf Tournament in recognition of his many years of service on behalf of Missouri State athletic lettermen alumni.
O'Neill was a graduate of and former football player at Illinois State University. He was the Bears' offensive line coach for six seasons, coached the defensive line 10 years and was defensive coordinator his last six seasons as the Bears won their final MIAA title in 1978 and made the transition to NCAA Division I status in 1982. Nineteen of O'Neill's former players earned all-conference recognition and four went on to professional football playing careers.
A prayer service will be held on Monday, October 27, at 6:30 pm at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E Seminole in Springfield, followed by a visitation from 7-8 pm. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, October 28, at 10 am at St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S Jefferson.
A celebration of Bill's life will be held at Millwood Country Club Tuesday immediately following the funeral.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests friends consider donations to the charity of their choice , or to the Bill O'Neill Endowed Athletics Scholarship at Missouri State University; the Ed Struck and Carl D. Heldt Endowed Scholarship at Illinois State University, or the St. Agnes Building Fund.
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