O'Connell, Stephen Cornelius, 1916-

Stephen Cornelius O'Connell was born on January 22, 1916, in West Palm Beach, Florida. He earned his BS, BA, and J.D. from the University of Florida. After graduating and being accepted into the Florida Bar in 1940, O'Connell practiced law in Ft. Lauderdale until joining the military during World War II. Beginning in 1941, O'Connell served in the Air Force in the position of director of physical training, eventually being discharged with the rank of major. He returned to private law practice and was active politically for ten years until the Governor LeRoy Collins appointed O'Connell to the Florida Supreme Court in 1955. Despite the fact he would take a substantial pay cut from his private firm, O'Connell joined the Court in October of 1955. O'Connell was eventually named Chief Justice in June 1967, only to relinquish it to serve as President of the University of Florida, a position he accepted in September 1967. After his resignation in 1973, O'Connell again returned to private law practice and banking in Tallahassee, remaining active in his community and with the University until his passing on April 13, 2001.

From the description of Stephen C. O'Connell Florida Supreme Court Papers, 1955-1967. (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 122510346

...