Mr. O’Neal was born in Jacksonville, Illinois and came to Beloit in 1910. He was an insurance executive here for 42 years and prior to this highly successful business he was assistant athletic coach at Beloit College. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois where he participated in football and other sports and his coaching work at Beloit College was preceded by a similar position at Illinois College in Jacksonville.

In addition to serving Scouting as president, he was treasurer of the Council for many years and was awarded the Silver Beaver “for distinguished service to boyhood.” He was exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge and when the Community Chest was organized he contributed his efforts for 25 years as Secretary-Treasurer. He was a leader in the “Goodfellow” movement which annually staged Christmas projects in the community. He participated in the Little Theater, was active in the Country Club where he was an excellent golfer and served the Beloit Savings Bank as a corporator for many years.

His wife has been equally active in the community and a son, Roger, is a well-known attorney and several times golf champion at the Country Club. Fred O’Neal left his imprint upon the business, sport, fraternal, charitable and character building organization annals of Beloit. His death at 69 on November 3, 1953, took from the ranks of Boy Scouting in this area a charter member and past president of the Stateline Council, who served boyhood for 35 years. It removed from the roll of the Elk Lodge one of its distinguished members and officers and created a void in organizations like the Little Theater, Country Club, the United Givers and others.