END OF AN ERA

Long-time history instructor, noted author, and historian, Bill O’Neal has announced his intention to retire from Panola College effective May 16. O’Neal’s departure will mark the end of a most wonderful and exciting career at Panola College.   

Hired in 1970, O’Neal hit the ground running and as they say, the rest is history… 

O’Neal presented his lectures dressed in costumes from the era he was teaching and his classes were enlivened by projects which attempted to duplicate experiences of the past. Presented by students at an appropriate point in the lecture schedule, these research projects endeavored to bring to life activities of another age.  

Talented students made, then reported on, colonial dresses and suits, coonskin caps, foot powered wood lathes, Pony Express mailbags, historic military uniforms, electric chairs, medieval siege engines, colonial stocks, and corn shuck dolls and mops. Antique weapons, household items, and cars were brought to the campus for demonstrations.  

Other projects included basketball and football games played with the uniforms and by the rules of the 1890s; barn dances with turn-of-the-century refreshments; Depression soup lines; calf branding around a trail drive campfire; bunkhouse breakfasts for early morning classes clad in Old West duds; Dixieland jazz performances; silent movies; and a host of other events. 

“Bill O’Neal inspired me to major in history while I was a student of his at Panola College”, said Ann Morris, Director of Distance Learning at Panola College. “The drama, the inside stories, the visual aids, and the projects made his class one of the most memorable I ever had. I’ve always given him credit for my love of history”. 

To this day, O’Neal still dresses for the occasion.  It is not uncommon to see a Civil War General, Cowboy, or Colonial Minuteman striding the halls on the way to class. Always with a grin on his face, a firm handshake and a note of encouragement for those he meets.  

During the spring semester of 1971 PJC offered its first off-campus courses. Bill O’Neal, Jewell Sheffield, and W.L. Edmonds traveled to Center to teach night classes in history, English, and math at the high school. The next year, in addition to night classes, college history was taught during the day to Center High School seniors under an innovative new Early Admissions program.  

Jackie Cannon, principal at Center High School when the Early Admission program was initiated at CHS, was eventually hired as the high school principal in Marshall, and in the spring of 1974 he established a similar program at MHS. Bill O’Neal offered a freshman history course to MHS seniors. Students responded eagerly to course offerings in Marshall and Center, and PJC centers eventually were established in both cities. 

O’Neal also initiated Panola College’s unique Traveling Texas History Course.  In addition to traditional classroom instruction, students have the opportunity to tour highlights of the Lone Star State while earning three semester hours credit in just four adventure-filled days and three evening sessions. 

O’Neal took students to the ruins of the San Saba Mission, the site of two Comanche massacres in the 1750s and to one of the best-preserved cavalry forts in the West, Fort McKavett. Other highlights included a visit to “Alamo Village” for a discussion of the famous battle on the life-size set built by John Wayne; a visit to Fort Clark in Bracketville where Robert E. Lee once served; and tour of Fort Inge; a tour of the San Antonio missions Espada, Capistrano, San Jose and Concepción, the Alamo and the Spanish Governor’s Palace. This was followed by a drive to “Washington-on-the-Brazos” where students toured the Star of Texas Museum, Independence Hall, and Barrington, a living plantation museum; they also viewed Sam Houston’s grave, statue, home, law office, and the Steamboat House where he died.  

During his tenure, O’Neal was awarded Panola Junior College’s first annual “Excellent Teacher Award” (1973); East Texas State University History Department – Alumnus of the Year Award (1987); Navarro College Alumnus of the Year Award (1987); Ottis Lock Award for Excellence in Teaching (1987); Panola County Citizen of the Year (1988); Fellow, East Texas Historical Association (1990); Honorary Arizona Ranger (1992); Ralph W. Steen Award, ETHA (1994); Literary Award, NOLA (2000); Piper Professor, Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation (2000). 

"Anyone who has ever come into contact with Professor Bill O'Neal knows that he is one-of-a-kind.  With a career spanning thirty-three years at Panola College, he epitomizes as much as anyone the ideals of this institution”, said Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College. “I personally will miss his leadership, enthusiasm, commitment to excellence, and caring attitude.  The State of Texas will not soon see a professor of Bill O'Neal's caliber. With great reluctance and deep appreciation we wish him well in his retirement." 

Bill O’Neal is married to Karon O’Neal who Chairs the Panola College’s Math and Science Division. He has four daughters, Mrs. Lynn Martinez, Dr. Shellie O’Neal, Dr. Berri O’Neal and Mrs. Causby Henderson and one granddaughter, Chloe Martinez. All four of O’Neal’s children graduated from Panola College and pursued careers in the field of education.