Wylie, Chalmers P.

English

Case Western Reserve University School of Law

Case Western Reserve Law ReviewVolume 29 | Issue 11978C. William O'NeillChalmers P. WylieFollow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrevPart of the Law CommonsThis In Memoriam is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Journals at Case Western Reserve University School of Law ScholarlyCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Case Western Reserve Law Review by an authorized administrator of Case Western Reserve UniversitySchool of Law Scholarly Commons.Recommended CitationChalmers P. Wylie, C. William O'Neill, 29 Case W. Res. L. Rev. 6 (1978)Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev/vol29/iss1/4C. WILLIAM O'NEILLChalmers P. Wylie*Chief Justice-Governor-Speaker-Attorney General C. WilliamO'Neill was my friend. It seems only yesterday that I met BillO'Neill for the first time in the Deshler-Wallick Hotel, a formerColumbus landmark now only a parking lot. He had wanted helpin his campaign for the office of Ohio Attorney General.Bill was not an imposing man physically, but he impressed mefrom the moment he spoke, and I became an active supporter inhis campaign. I made speeches and passed out literature for him.Thousands of others he inspired did the same. Bill O'Neill waselected the youngest Attorney General in the history of Ohio.Soon after the election Bill asked me to serve as supervisor ofthe Industrial Commission section. Ironically, Robert Leach, theman who was appointed to fill the vacancy created by Bill's deathand who has acquired a reputation for judicial excellence in hisown right, was hired at about the same time. In fact, a list of theindividuals whom Bill O'Neill started in public life would readlike a Who's Who of Ohio.For the young people he brought to his office, he providedboth opportunity and encouragement for success. One day when Iwas an Assistant Attorney General, Bill called me into his office.He asked about a workmen's compensation case that I was han-dling and informed me that some influential people on the otherside of the case had been "making some inquiries." Bill asked methe details of the case which I outlined for him. He listened with-out comment until I had finished. Then he asked, "Can you winit?" I answered, "I think so." Bill's only comment was, "Do thebest you can." Never in the three years I served under him in theAttorney General's office did he try to influence me on a case thatI was handling. Bill was loyal to his staff, that loyalty and hisexample often inspired superhuman effort.When Bill O'Neill was elected Governor, he asked me to joinhim, initially as Administrator of the Bureau of Workmen's Com-pensation and later as First Assistant. Few days went by during* Member, United States House of Representatives for the 15th District of Ohio.178]IN MEMOR.IAMthose years when we were not in contact. But after I left the Gov-ernor's office, we saw each other only occasionally since our ownbusy schedules took us down separate paths.One day I took a Boy Scout troop, of which my son was amember, to visit the Ohio Supreme Court chambers to fulfill arequirement for their "Citizenship in the Nation" merit badge. Ihad not told Bill we were coming, but when he learned that wewere there, he came out to meet the boys. Bill gave an impromptutalk that was one of the most stirring speeches I have ever heard.When we left, each one of those young men took a unique giftwith him.Almost any person who was touched by Bill O'Neill'slife-and there were many-has a tale to tell about him. He was aman to be remembered. To tell his story is to reflect on the historyof Ohio during his lifetime, and I cannot do justice to even thoseparts of it I know within the confines of these pages. Bill O'Neillwas my friend. But more than that, he was one of the most com-pletely decent public men I have ever known.1978]

C. William O\u27Neill

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C. William O\u27Neill

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