John William "Bill" O'Neal | |
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Historian Bill O'Neal addressing the West Texas Historical Association meeting in Odessa (April 2014)
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Born | John William O'Neal April 8, 1942 Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas |
Occupation | Historian, Author, Radio host, Professor |
Nationality | American |
Subject | Western history |
Spouse |
(1) Kathryn Berry O'Neal (divorced) |
Children |
Four daughters from second marriage: |
(1) Kathryn Berry O'Neal (divorced)
(2) Faye Gipson O'Neal Frasier (divorced)
Four daughters from second marriage:
Lynn O. Martinez
Dr. Shellie O'Neal
Dr. Berri O'Neal
John William O'Neal, known as Bill O'Neal (born April 8, 1942), is an American author who has written more than forty books and three hundred articles and book reviews on the American West, including gunfighters, lawmen, and ghost towns; Country music, with emphasis on Texas artists; baseball, such as his study of the Texas League, and children's books, including one on the first Thanksgiving held in Texas.
In 2003, O'Neal retired as a history professor at Panola College, a community college in Carthage, the seat of Panola County in East Texas, located southwest of Shreveport, Louisiana. However, he continues to teach at Panola College periodically and maintains his prolific writing career. A member of the Western Writers of America, he has appeared in television documentaries on Turner Network Television, The History Channel, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Discovery Channel, Turner Broadcasting System, and the Arts and Entertainment Channel.