UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1
O'Neil Services Today
Former Regent Chairman Dies Saturday Night
Funeral services for Ralph T. "Dyke" O'Neil, member of the State Board of Regents and father of Bob O'Neil, c42, were held this afternoon at the First Presbyterian church in Topeka.
O'Neil died unexpectedly Saturday night in Wesley hospital, Wichita, following a stroke suffered while attending a dinner in his honor at the home of Eugene Stanley, his successor as bar association president.
He attended the University a short time in 1917. His son, Bob, participates in varsity athletics, playing end on the football team.
While "Dyke" O'Neil was widely known as a capable and successful practicing attorney he gained his greatest prominence as leader in
American Legion affairs and by his work in the ranks of the Democratic party.
He was national commander of the American Legion in 1930-31, and served in the World war as captain of the 11th United States infantry. During his 12 months as head of the Legion, the organization reached a membership of 1,000,000, the largest in its history.
Following the World war, O'Neil took up his law practice in Topeka. Governor Payne Ratner reappointed O'Neil on the State Board of Regents on Jan. 2 of this year, thus giving O'Neil his sixth appointment as a regent under four different governors. Gov. Harry Woodring first appointed him in 1931 for a two-year term. Gov. Alf. Landon reappointed him twice during his term as governor.
He became chairman of the Board following his second appointment by Huxman. The legislature of 1939 reorganized the Board of Regents, and Governor Ratner selected O'Neil to serve a term ending Dec. 31 last year, at the expiration of which Ratner again put him on the Board for a full term. He was born in Osage City, Aug.
Ralph T. O'Neil
8, 1888. Graduated from Baker University in 1909, he attracted considerable attention as an athlete. O'Neil attended Baker at the time Dr. "Phog" Allen was coaching there.
O'Neil became coach at Clay Center High School for one year before entering Harvard Law School where he was graduated in 1913.
O'Neil married Margaret Heizer, 17, after he returned from war service and began his law practice in Osage City. Shortly thereafter he was elected county attorney of Osage county.
Civic Leader
"Dyke" O'Neil was a member of Delta Tau Delta and Phi Alpha Delta fraternities, Acacia honorary fraternity, Elks lodge, Knights of Pythias, Topeka Chamber of Commerce, University Club, Topeka Country Club, Presbyterian church and the Masonic order.
Surviving him are his widow and two sons, Robert, c'42, and Ralph Jr., a senior in Topeka High School. Dr. Roy W. Zimmer read the funeral services, with burial in Mt. Hope cemetery. Capitol Post No. 1 of the American Legion conducted the services at the graveside.
R.O.T.C. Must Return Uniforms and Equipment
Col. K. F. Baldwin has made the announcement that no grades in the department of military science will be recorded until the uniform and other equipment belonging to the department has been checked in at the R.O.T.C. office.
Geologists Write Final on Field Trip
Eight members of the class in mid-continent stratigraphy under R. C. Moore, professor of geology, left Saturday morning for a two-day field trip to study limestone beds known to geologists as the Topeka formation.
They will follow the outcrop of the rocks from the Kansas river to the Oklahoma line, stopping at several places to study the formations, and collect fossils. They will go through Shawnee, Osage, Greenwood, Elk and Chautauqua counties.
Following the trip, the students will write a complete report on the Topeka formation from notes taken on this and two previous field trips. The report will take the place of the final examination for the class. Students taking the trip are Karl Becker, William Bramlette, James Clark, Russell Jeffords, Jacob Lemmons, R. F. Keroher, Earl Marshall, and Charles Williams, all graduate students.
Copyright 1940, LICORR & MYERS Tobacco CG.