Ocracoke line superintendent Bobby O’Neal retired on October 31 after 46 years of service with the co-op. He’s had one of the best vantage points to witness tremendous change on the barrier island, playing a key role for much of it.

Fresh from high school graduation in 1973, Ocracoke native Bobby O’Neal was ready to go to work. He put in an application with the state to work on a dredge, and while awaiting a call back, his uncle Ronald “Conk” O’Neal suggested he instead consider becoming a lineman with the island’s electric cooperative. And that’s exactly what Bobby did, reporting to none other than long-time line superintendent Conk.

Bobby’s uncle, Ronald “Conk” O’Neal

In those days, there were four employees: Taft Howard, Calvin O’Neal, Conk and Bobby. Calvin ran the office, which was located in what is today the Community Square. Unlike their mainland counterparts, linemen on the island also had to maintain the diesel generating plant that served as back up for the original transmission cables, which were susceptible to the occassional collision with a boat prop or dredge operation. Bobby vividly recalls the first time he accompanied Conk to splice one of the submerged transmission cables. They set out in a boat and Conk instructed Bobby to dive down and pull the cable up for repairs. Bobby disappeared below the surface of Hatteras Inlet and soon came up empty handed. He tried again. And again. The day wasn’t getting any longer so Conk instructed Bobby to go back under and said “Don’t come up again without that cable.” When Bobby resurfaced he had the cable in hand.

In those days, prior to digger trucks, the O’Neals set poles using dynamite. It was a delicate operation and if things went awry a pole could easily be reduced to toothpicks. But despite a sea of hardships and potential hazards, Bobby relishes every memory made working side-by-side with his kin.

Proximity so far from the mainland along with the demands of keeping the power flowing with a small crew didn’t afford Bobby much down-time. They say you shouldn’t take your work home with you, but in Bobby’s case his island home was his work. If power went out most islanders just picked up the phone and called Bobby directly.

Bobby O’Neal with wife, Allison, and children Chloe and Jackson. Not pictured are sons Billy and Mark. (Ann Ehringhaus photo)

Bobby officially hung up his climbing gear and stepped into retirement on November 1. He looks forward to the opportunity to more fully participate in his young daughter Chloe’s childhood as she turns eight along with his grandson Paxson who is four. He also has a new grandson Jude in California whom he has yet to meet.

Unfortunately, like so many islanders, he also has a house to put back together due to flood damage from Hurricane Dorian. While he has witnessed so much change on the island during his lifetime Bobby still can’t quite wrap his head around the devastation that ravaged Ocracoke in a matter of a few short hours. Yet he’s still proud to note that power was restored early on in the recovery even though hundreds of homes were not able to reconnect right away.

With Bobby’s retirement it is the end of an era. For the first time since 1958, an O’Neal will not be a member of Tideland’s Ocracoke line crew.