A native of St. Augustine, Dr. William Wayne O’Connell, KHS Class of ’51, was a leader in health services in St. Johns County for over 34 years and named one of the top 25 leaders in St. Johns County.

At KHS, Wayne lettered in baseball and basketball, played cornet in the KHS band, was a member of the Latin and K Clubs and was voted “Best Dancer” in his senior year. He attended Emory University Medical School and performed his internship and residency at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Wayne and his wife, the former Jo Gibson, raised their family of three sons and two daughters as he ran his practice at Flagler Hospital. There, he became chief of surgery and president of the medical staff.

He was a founder of Inter Medic Health Center Inc., which in 1974, became St. Augustine General Hospital (SAGH). Dr. O’Connell was SAGH’s first president and also served as a board member, medical staff secretary and chief of surgery. When SAGH merged with Flagler Hospital in 1986, he decided to leave SAGH to become the medical director and administrator of the St. Johns County Public Health Unit, where he emphasized children’s health through a variety of new programs. He served on the boards of the Florida Medical Association, Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, St. Johns River Rural Health Network, Northeast Florida AIDS Network and Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida.

He was also a member of the Lutheran Church, St. Augustine Shrine Club and team doctor for the SAHS football team. His legacy is in the development and establishment of health care services for children in St. Johns County.