Jan. 29, 2007
ATLANTA–John O’Neill, who served as the Georgia Tech Athletic Association’s business manager for 25 years, died Saturday at the age of 78.
O’Neill retired from the Athletic Association in 1991 as Principal Associate Director of Athletics. Originally hired as business manager by legendary Tech head coach and athletics director Bobby Dodd in 1966, he was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director in 1975, to Associate AD in 1980, and then to Senior Associate Athletic Director in 1983.
In 1985, O’Neill was named Business Manager of the Year by the College Athletic Business Managers Association.
Before joining the Tech staff, O’Neill worked for the Equitable Life Assurance Society in Atlanta for 12 years and also served as a Southeastern Conference football official. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served three years as a pilot.
A two-time football letterman (1948-49) under Dodd, O’Neill graduated from Georgia Tech in 1950, earning a B.S. degree in Industrial Management.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lucia Rawson O’Neill; son John O’Neill, III and wife Madeline; daughter Alice O’Neill Whisenhunt and husband Ken; and three grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. at Church of the Apostles in Atlanta. Friends are invited to visit with the family after the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made in Mr. O’Neill’s memory to the Church of the Apostles (3585 Northside Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30327), the Georgia Tech Athletic Association (Alexander-Tharpe Fund, 150 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA 30332-0455), or the National Parkinson’s Foundation (1501 N.W. 9th Avenue/Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494).
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