Beloved DHS history teacher retires

BEACON PHOTOS/JEN HORTON
His next 37 years— In the “grad” seat, Stan O’Neal listens to former student and fellow DeLand High teacher Ted Shistle’s serenade at a party honoring O’Neal. O’Neal retired after teaching for 37.5 years, 36.5 of those at DeLand High School. “My next 37 years won’t care about FCAT scores,” Shistle sang. “No grading papers, I’m walking out that door.” To read all the lyrics, check out www.beacononlinenews.com.

BEACON PHOTOS/JEN HORTON
His next 37 years—The home of Charlie and Marilyn Smoak is packed with well-wishers at the retirement gala.

PHOTO COURTESY MARILYN SMOAK
Stan O'Neal in 1973

After 37.5 years, Mr. O’Neal finally graduates — to retirement

By Jennifer Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jun 18, 2009 - 8:25:01am

It’s known as the ripple effect: You throw a stone in the water, and ripples spread across a still pond, gaining momentum as they travel farther from their origin.

With six classes a day filled with dozens of new minds each year, into how many minds did Stanton O’Neal cast pebbles of knowledge during 37.5 years as a teacher?

How many times did he change the world? Or, perhaps even more difficult, how many teenage minds did he influence?

“He has had an impact on hundreds and thousands of students,” said Ted Shistle, a fellow DHS teacher and a former student of O’Neal’s.

About 50 people gathered to celebrate O’Neal’s retirement at a “graduation” party June 13 at the home of Charlie and Marilyn Smoak in DeLand. The party had some poignant moments and lots of laughter.

Shistle serenaded O’Neal with a parody of a Tim McGraw song.

“In my next 37 years, I’m going to have some fun,” Shistle sang. “Try to forget about all the teaching that I’ve done.”

(Read all of the lyrics)

O’Neal was given retirement advice from his well-wishers. Much of the advice was about golf, which prompted O’Neal to offer golf balls to anyone who wanted them.

It seems O’Neal skipped his last day of school to grade AP exams in Louisville, Ky.

When he returned, he found a surprise waiting for him.

“Somebody had gone and dumped 10,000 golf balls in my RV,” O’Neal said. “Seriously, I can’t get my car in the garage.”

At the retirement party, slide shows and video presentations spanning O’Neal’s career showed how much some things have changed, and how other things didn’t change at all.

Through his career and his life, O’Neal has been known for his devotion to God, his family, and his students.

“He was known as ‘Perfect Stan,’” his wife, Henrietta “Henri” O’Neal, said. “He was the perfect teacher.”

She smiled and said in a loud aside, “His wife said he’s not so perfect.”

The pair met in college, and have been married 35 years. They have three daughters, Stacy, Ashley and Brittany.

All three of his daughters had Dad as their history teacher.

“He was a great teacher,” Henri O’Neal said. “He was always accessible to his students. At lunchtime, after school. He’d have AP review sessions at the house.”

Henri O’Neal said her husband, the son of George and the late Emma Lee O’Neal, grew up in Troy, Ala., and graduated from Troy University.

He taught history for one year in Fernandina Beach, and taught at DeLand High for 36.5 years.

His pastimes include golf, camping, music and church activities. He is a member of First Baptist Church of DeLand, where he is active with the praise team.

During the party, O’Neal read aloud a letter he sent to DeLand High Principal Mitch Moyer about some of the changes from when he first started at DHS in 1973.

“Well, I served my 36 years at DHS. Sounds like I did a bad crime, doesn’t it?” he said. “But it was by choice.”

He told about the days before scanners, copiers and computers. O’Neal wrote about the annual angst of teachers who needed to use the ditto machine.

“You could walk into the workroom, and it looked like a bunch of monks copying the Bible,” he quipped. “Except we had electricity.”

He ended, “I loved teaching history and DeLand High School. I have some great memories, and hope that you all keep them coming.”

(Read the entire letter here.)

Two former students, both Beacon staff members, did just that.

“I remember his enthusiasm for history,” said Will Kirkpatrick, circulation manager. “Even those who had little interest in history were drawn in by his contagious enthusiasm.”

O’Neal tried to make the subject come alive for students.

“When we were covering World War II, he let my grandfather come in and tell the class about his involvement with World War II, and some of the situations that he encountered as a chaplain,” Kirkpatrick said. “I remember how proud I was of my grandfather that day, and am grateful to Mr. O’Neal for allowing me to have such a great memory of Grandpa.”

Classified-advertising manager Amanda Rutherford also shared how much of an impact O’Neal had on her. He’s the reason she votes, and the reason she debates.

“Picture this: It’s seventh period at DHS. We have just eaten and are very, very sleepy. In walks Mr. O’Neal with coffee in hand. Tapping his foot incessantly, he addresses the class, ‘We’re way behind. We’ll never be ready at this pace.’ This is where we all come alive,” Rutherford said. “Mr. O’Neal is one of my fondest memories of DHS, with his out-of-the-box teaching genius. When I think of Mr. O’Neal, I remember someone quick-witted, fast-paced with a dash of repartee.”

DHS Principal Moyer said O’Neal’s retirement is certainly a loss for the school.

“He was the ultimate teaching professional,” Moyer said. “He outlived many, many principals. I think he said Alan Bailes was there when he started, and there were many in between. I was blessed to be on the other end of his career.”

Moyer said O’Neal’s shoes will be hard to fill.

“He was the kind of professional who always remained in touch with the students,” Moyer said.

To read O’Neal’s letter, post a comment or memory about O’Neal, or read Shistle’s “37 Years,” check out the story on the Web, at www.beacononlinenews.com.

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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