Changes

:Not to be confused with Texas historian and attorney [[Bill Neal (Texas)|Bill Neal]]

:Not to be confused with Texas historian and attorney [[Bill Neal (Texas)|Bill Neal]]

'''John William O'Neal''', known as '''Bill O'Neal''' (April 8, 1942 &ndash; November 3, 2025)<ref name=obit/> was an author of more than forty books and many articles on the American West. His work focuses on gunfighters, law enforcement officers, and ghost towns. He has also written on [[Country music]], with emphasis on [[Texas]] artists, [[baseball]], and children's books, including one about the first [[Thanksgiving Day|Thanksgiving]] celebrations held in Texas.

'''John William O'Neal''', known as '''Bill O'Neal''' (April 8, 1942 &ndash; November 3, 2025)<ref name=obit/> was an author of fifty-nine books and scores of articles on the American West. His work focuses on gunfighters, law enforcement officers, and ghost towns. He has also written on [[Country music]], with emphasis on [[Texas]] artists, [[baseball]], and children's books, including one about the first [[Thanksgiving Day|Thanksgiving]] celebrations held in Texas.

==Background==

==Background==

O'Neal was born in Corsicana in Navarro County in east central Texas to William Causby "Bud" O'Neal (1915–1991), a 1939 Bachelor of Science graduate of [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station, Texas|College Station]], and the former Jessie Standard (1918–2002), originally from Lampasas in west central Texas. O'Neal's maternal great-grandfather drove [[cattle]] on the Chisholm Trail; his maternal grandmother, Janie Lucile Standard, came to Texas in 1881 in a covered wagon. Bud and Jessie married on April 9, 1940, and owned a [[farm]] retail store in Corsicana. As a little boy, O'Neal spent treasured hours at the Ideal, Palace, and Grand theatres in Corsicana, figuratively riding the range with Gene Autry and [[Roy Rogers]]. O'Neal has a younger sister, Judy O'Neal Smith (born March 20, 1944), and a brother, Michael Ross "Mike" O'Neal (born June 25, 1952) of Carrollton near [[Dallas]].<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/bill-o-neal-obituary?id=59965851|title Bill O'Neal obituary|publisher=legacy.com|date=November 5, 2025}}</ref>  

O'Neal was born in Corsicana in Navarro County in east central Texas to William Causby "Bud" O'Neal (1915–1991), a 1939 Bachelor of Science graduate of [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station, Texas|College Station]], and the former Jessie Lucille Standard (1918–2002), originally from Lampasas in west central Texas. O'Neal's maternal great-grandfather drove [[cattle]] on the Chisholm Trail; his maternal grandmother, Janie Lucile Standard, came to Texas in 1881 in a covered wagon. Bud and Jessie married on April 9, 1940, and owned a [[farm]] retail store in Corsicana. As a little boy, O'Neal spent treasured hours at the Ideal, Palace, and Grand theatres in Corsicana, figuratively riding the range with Gene Autry and [[Roy Rogers]]. O'Neal has a younger sister, Judy O'Neal Smith (born March 20, 1944), and a brother, Michael Ross "Mike" O'Neal (born June 25, 1952) of Carrollton near [[Dallas]].<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/bill-o-neal-obituary?id=59965851|title=Bill O'Neal obituary|publisher=legacy.com|date=November 5, 2025}}</ref>  

In 1960, O'Neal graduated from Corsicana High School. He thereafter enrolled at, first, Navarro College in Corsicana and then Texas A&M University-Commerce, then known as East Texas State University in Commerce, a city in Hunt County. He received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] and [[Master of Arts]] from A&M-Commerce in 1964 and 1969, respectively. O'Neal served as athletic director and head football coach at Anna High School (1967–1968) and at Waskom High School in Harrison County (1968–1970). He first married the former Kathryn Berry of [[Dallas]].  After their divorce, O'Neal married Faye Gipson of Garrison in Nacogdoches County, who remarried and took the name Faye G. Frasier of [[Corpus Christi]].  

In 1960, O'Neal graduated from Corsicana High School. He thereafter enrolled at, first, Navarro College in Corsicana and then Texas A&M University-Commerce, then known as East Texas State University in Commerce, a city in Hunt County. He received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] and [[Master of Arts]] from A&M-Commerce in 1964 and 1969, respectively. O'Neal served as athletic director and head football coach at Anna High School (1967–1968) and at Waskom High School in Harrison County (1968–1970). He first married the former Kathryn Berry of [[Dallas]].  After their divorce, O'Neal married Faye Gipson of Garrison in Nacogdoches County, who remarried and took the name Faye G. Frasier of [[Corpus Christi]].