An Appreciation —
Beverly and William O'Neill

A remarkable era in the city of Long Beach ended July 18 when Mayor and CSULB alumna Beverly O’Neill handed over the reins to new Mayor Bob Foster. O’Neill served three terms totaling 12 years, winning her final term as a write-in candidate.

As a Long Beach City College student, community native Beverly Lewis decided to pursue a career in teaching, which brought her to then-Long Beach State College. She earned her B.A. in elementary education in 1952 and an M.A. in counseling and guidance in 1957.

At Long Beach State, she reconnected with her future husband, William F. O’Neill, whom she first met at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. They both became Long Beach State Associated Students officers—William was A.S. president, and Beverly was vice president a few years later. He was named the 1964 Cal State Long Beach alumnus of the year, while Beverly was a 1984 distinguished alumna. The couple went on to earn their doctorates at USC, where William became a professor of education.

After several years as a schoolteacher in the Long Beach Unified School District, O’Neill returned to Long Beach City College as a faculty member, eventually moving into administration and finally spending five years as its superintendent-president. After 31 years at the campus, she decided to move in a new professional direction by becoming a candidate for mayor of Long Beach. She won the 1994 election, just in time to face the critical challenge of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard closure.

During her tenure overseeing California’s fifth largest city, O’Neill earned the respect of local, state and national leaders. The League of California Cities elected her its 2001-02 president and American City and County magazine named her its 2004 municipal leader of the year. She achieved further national prominence as the 2005-06 president of the United States Conference of Mayors.

The O’Neills have long been friends of Cal State Long Beach. Both are past university Alumni Association board members and were recognized with the university’s 1999 Golden Achievement Award for service to the community and to higher education.

— Anne Ambrose