Former Long Beach City College superintendent-president and former mayor of Long Beach Beverly O’Neill was among the three individuals who were inducted on April 10 into the Motorsports Walk of Fame
Beverly O’Neill was described as having a strong love for all of Long Beach by her daughter Teresa O’Neill, but especially Long Beach City College.
“She loves Long Beach more than anything in the world, she loved the Grand Prix, but she also loved LBCC, because that was her first love,” said Teresa O’Neill, who came in place of her mother, who couldn’t attend due to her declining health.
Teresa O’Neill, left, stands beside Council member Cindy Allen, right, as they both look down at the new plaque. The plaque can been seen in the right picture. (Sam Villa)
The former mayor started her journey at LBCC and later graduated from Cal State Long Beach before coming back to LBCC to serve as a teacher and later superintendent-president, contributing to her 31 years of service at LBCC.
Beverly O’Neill’s name now lays on one of the many medallions laid across South Pine Avenue, along with the two inductees, Grand Prix President and CEO Jim Michaelian and IndyCar driver Scott Dixon.
Michealian described Beverly O’Neill as the “obvious choice” when looking for the next inductee when it came to the growth of the city and contributions to the Grand Prix, especially that of the 50th race.
“We are very appreciative of what she’s done in terms of making this whole city really something that people want to attend,” said Michealian.
Teresa O’Neill appeared at the ceremony in similar clothing to what her mother would wear to the Grand Prix weekend: a Grand Prix jacket, her black-and-white checkered scarf, and her racing car necklace.
“I used to tell my mother she was Mickey Mouse because everyone knew her, the spectators, friends, race car drivers, and perfect strangers,” said Terrence McNally, Teresa O’Neill’s husband, who read a letter on her behalf.
Beverly O’Neill’s induction now lies with her many decorations, from the Lifetime Achievement Award to the Woman of Excellence Award from the YWCA and her induction into LBCC’s Hall of Fame.
“She was gonna retire from LBCC, and then a couple months later, she decided to run for mayor, and it was kind of like, what?” O’Neill said about her mother.
Beverly O’Neill still stands as the first and only three-term elected mayor of Long Beach, winning by a write-in candidate swerving around Long Beach’s law which restricts a candidate who has served two terms from appearing on the ballot.