William A. O'Neill
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The Honorable William O'Neill |
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|---|---|
Gov. O'Neill greets a young visitor to his office.
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| 84th Governor of Connecticut | |
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In office December 31, 1980 – January 9, 1991 |
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| Lieutenant | Joseph J. Fauliso |
| Preceded by | Ella T. Grasso |
| Succeeded by | Lowell P. Weicker |
| 82nd Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut | |
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In office January 3, 1979 – December 31, 1980 |
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| Governor | Ella T. Grasso |
| Preceded by | Robert Killian |
| Succeeded by | Joseph J. Fauliso |
| Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Atchison O'Neill August 11, 1930 Hartford, Connecticut |
| Died | November 24, 2007 (aged 77) East Hampton, Connecticut |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Nikki O'Neill |
| Profession | Legislator |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | US Air Force |
William Atchison O'Neill (August 11, 1930 – November 24, 2007) was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 84th Governor of Connecticut from 1980 to 1991.
O'Neil was born in Hartford, Connecticut son of Joseph O'Neill and Frances O'Neill, He was educated at Teachers College of Connecticut (now Central Connecticut State University) and the University of Hartford but did not complete a degree. He married Natalie Scott Damon "Nikki" in 1962. He sold insurance for Prudential Insurance Company.
O'Neil served as a combat pilot with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. He was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Upon his return, he ran the family business—an East Hampton tavern where residents and politicians often met and where he, by his own admission, learned to listen.
Elected to six terms in the Connecticut House of Representatives, O'Neil served as majority leader from 1975 to 1976 and 1977 to 1978. He was House assistant minority leader and assistant majority leader. He chaired the Coalition of Northeastern Governors and the New England Governors' Conference and was president of the Council of State Governments.
O'Neill was elected the 82nd Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut in 1978 on a Democratic ticket along with Governor Ella Grasso. When Grasso resigned for health reasons in December 1980 (she would pass away the following February), O'Neill became Governor and was elected to a full term in 1982 and re-elected in 1986. He benefited from the economic boom Connecticut enjoyed during the 1980s when the state's job growth was at a recent historic peak. The state enjoyed large budget surpluses in this era. His large re-election victory in 1986 over Lowell Weicker ally Julie Belaga had an effect on the state legislature, which gained large majorities of liberal Democrats eager to expand state government, such as House Speaker Irving Stolberg.
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