Paula O’Neil’s 30-plus years of service to Pasco County were hailed Friday night when the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce presented her with the Eminent Pioneer Award.
Pasco County’s three-term Clerk & Comptroller became only the fifth elected official and the first constitutional officer to earn the trophy, awarded annually at the Chamber’s end-of-the-year banquet since 1988.
Established by the Chamber to identify an individual “who has demonstrated outstanding service to West Pasco County for more than 20 years,” the Eminent Pioneer Award’s previous winners include historians, a newspaper publisher, an educator, a restaurateur, a banker, a boat builder, business executives, attorneys, and Realtors.
Previous winners who were elected officials include longtime County Commissioner Ann Hildebrand, School Board fixture Dorothy Mitchell, and New Port Richey City Councilman Fred K. Marchman.
Dr. O’Neil served Pasco County in a variety of demanding roles before being elected Clerk & Comptroller in 2008. She also serves on a variety of boards, including Florida West Coast Credit Union, Florida Trust, Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, and Civitek.
Dr. O’Neil says hearing her name called caught her by surprise. “It’s a great, great honor,” she says. “To be included with so many who have done so much for West Pasco, it’s overwhelming.”