Mayor
Jim O'Neal

James O'Neal was elected Mayor of Springfield in April 2009 and re-elected in 2011. Previously, he served as General Councilman from 1987 to 1994. As Mayor, he serves as an ex-officio member of the four Council standing committees.

As a life-long resident of Springfield, Mayor O'Neal's professional career is much like a classic story – but an accurate one. Approximately 28 years ago Jim O'Neal began O&S Trucking with nothing but an old desk, phone and a chair. Now, O&S Trucking is a full service truckload carrier with a tractor fleet of over 300 tractors and 450 trailers, handling temperature-controlled freight.

In 2000, Mr. O'Neal established an employee-ownership program, providing O&S associates a stake in the business. Since its inception, O&S's ESOP has earned a 250% increase in stock value – of which 30% is in the employee trust.

In recognition of the importance of community involvement, O&S contributes not only 10% of profits to various charities and community efforts, but also the valuable commodity of time. Some of the charities benefitting from these gifts are The Victim Center, Price Cutter Children's Charities, Boy Scouts, MS Society, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, to name a few.

In addition, Jim O'Neal serves on the Board of Directors for The Victim Center, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and Boy Scouts of America. He was named the Small Business Person of the Year in 1993, won Springfield Business Journal's 2002 Economic Impact Award, and was selected as a member of SBJ's 2004 Dynamic Dozen.

While Jim has won numerous service awards and recognition, both professionally and personally, he considers his most notable accomplishment to be that of marrying his lovely wife Debbie, and helping raise their four children. They are currently enjoying their four grandchildren.