Dave O'Neal

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David C. O’Neal
O'Neal in 1977
41st Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
In office
January 10, 1977 – July 31, 1981
GovernorJames R. Thompson
Preceded byNeil Hartigan
Succeeded byGeorge Ryan
Sheriff of St. Clair County, Illinois
In office
1971–1977
Preceded byDan E. Costello
Succeeded byPaul Klincar[1]
Personal details
Born(1937-01-24)January 24, 1937
Belleville, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJuly 10, 2021(2021-07-10) (aged 84)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSandra
ProfessionPolitician, pharmacist and businessman
This article is about the lieutenant governor of Illinois. For the South Carolina state legislator, see David O'Neal. For the poet, see David O'Neil.

David C. O'Neal (January 24, 1937 – July 10, 2021) was an American law enforcement officer and politician who served as the

41st Lieutenant Governor of Illinois from 1977 to 1981. For six years he served as Saint Clair County Sheriff, the first Republican
to hold that office in twenty years.

Background

O’Neal was born January 24, 1937, in

National Conference of Lieutenant Governors and the governing boards of McKendree University in Lebanon, and the Saint Louis College of Pharmacy. He is the recipient of the Illinois Wisconsin States Association of Elks Humanitarian of the Year and East Saint Louis Model Cities Program
Meritorious Services Award and was named Outstanding Young Republican of the United States in 1975 and Outstanding Young Republican of Illinois in 1971.

In 1977, he received the Distinguished Pharmacist Award from the Illinois Pharmacists' Association. An athlete, his hobbies include sports such as tennis, golf, bowling and motorcycling.

Lt. Governor of Illinois

Lieutenant Governor O’Neal devoted much effort to overseeing the Senior Legislative Forum, a legislative advocacy group he created to aid senior citizens throughout Illinois. He also worked closely with the State's two Senior Action Centers, which provides assistance with the elderly and disabled.

His other responsibilities have included chairmanships of the Governor's Special Commission on State-Mandated Programs, the Technical Advisory Committee on Aging, the Illinois Energy Contingency Council's Subcommittee, the Governor's Jail and Detention Standards Review Committee, and a committee to investigate administrative and correctional officer conditions at adult correctional centers.

He has also served as vice-chairman of the Governor's Energy Advisory Council, ex officio member of the Council on Aging, and a member of the Commission on Inter-Governmental Cooperation.

In

U.S. Senate winning the nomination to go on to the general election. His Democratic opponent was Illinois Secretary of State Alan Dixon. After a tough election battle O’Neal went down to defeat; Dixon defeated O’Neal in a vote of 2,565,302–1,946,296.[2] O’Neal resigned as Lieutenant Governor in 1981, claiming that he was just bored.[3]

O’Neal served as Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Division of Energy and Natural Resources in George H.W. Bush administration.

He died on July 10, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 84.[4]

References

  1. ^ Our Sheriffs
  2. Secretary of State of Illinois
     – Official Vote Totals, Illinois General Election of November 4, 1980
  3. ^ Secter, Bob (February 4, 2010). "Job may be boring, but history of Illinois lieutenant governor is anything but". Illinois Senate Press. [dead link]
  4. ^ "Former St. Clair County sheriff, Illinois lieutenant governor dies at age 84". Belleville News-Democrat. July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
1976, 1978 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Class 3)
1980
 Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
1977–1981 		Succeeded by
George H. Ryan
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