William A. O'Neill

William Atchison O'Neill (born August 11, 1930 in Hartford , Connecticut , † November 24, 2007 in East Hampton , Connecticut) was an American politician and governor of the US state of Connecticut. He was a member of the Democratic Party .

Career

O'Neill attended New Britain Teachers College and the University of Hartford . He was then a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force during the Korean War . He was also a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars . O'Neill decided to pursue a political career. He ran for a seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives , where he was re-elected five more times after a successful election. He was also the majority leader from 1975 to 1976 and again from 1977 to 1978. He was also deputy minority leader as well as deputy majority leader. In 1978 he was elected lieutenant governor of Connecticut.

On December 31, 1980, Governor Ella T. Grasso resigned from office for health reasons and O'Neill became the new governor of the state. Both in November 1982 and in November 1986 he was confirmed in office by the electorate. He remained governor until January 1991. He chaired the Coalition of Northeastern Governors and the New England Governors' Conference . He was also the President of the Council of State Governments .

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personal data
SURNAME	O'Neill, William A.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	O'Neill, William Atchison
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American officer and politician
DATE OF BIRTH	August 11, 1930
PLACE OF BIRTH	Hartford , Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH	November 24, 2007
Place of death	East Hampton , Connecticut