Jack O'Neill (businessman)

Jack O'Neill

O'Neill (left) with United States Congressman Sam Farr
Born March 27, 1923[1]
Denver, Colorado
Home town Santa Cruz, California
Children 7

Jack O'Neill is an American businessman, often credited with the invention of the wetsuit.[2] In 1952 he founded the O'Neill brand while opening one of California's first surf shops in a garage on the Great Highway in San Francisco, close to his favorite bodysurfing break at the time.[2] This led to the establishment of a company that deals in wetsuits, surf gear, and clothing.[3] Jack O'Neill's name is attached to surfwear and his brand of surfing equipment.[4]

In December 1996 he also began a non profit organization called O'Neill Sea Odyssey which provides students with hands-on lessons in marine biology and that teaches the relationship between the oceans and the environment.[5]

O'Neill resides on a beachfront property in Santa Cruz, California, where he has lived since 1959.[6]

Awards

in 2002, O'Neil was an EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award Recipient for the Northern California Region. [7]

References

  1. ↑ Floater. "Surf legend Jack O’Neill hits 89". http://www.epicsurf.com.au/''. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Drew Kampion and Ben Marcus (December 2009). "Jack O'Neill". Surfing Encyclopedia. Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Willis, Clint (2003). Big Wave: Stories of Riding the World's Wildest Water. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 281. ISBN 978-1-56025-501-7.
  4. ↑ Guisado, Raul; Jeff Klaas (2005). Surfing California: A Complete Guide to the Best Breaks on the California Coast. Globe Pequot. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7627-2966-1.
  5. ↑ "Senator Boxer Gives "Conservation Champion" Award to O'Neill Sea Odyssey" (Press release). Barbara Boxer. 2005-05-27.
  6. ↑ Klinger, Max (May 27, 2012). "Jack O'Neill, 89, a surfing legend who endures". San Francisco Chronicle. SFGate.com. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Jack O'Neill Honored | SURFER Magazine." SURFER Magazine. N.p., 27 June 2002. Web. 13 Apr. 2015. <http://www.surfermag.com/features/jacko/#PMBgKxG8yaDHPmXe.97>.

Further reading