Wally Sheil

Who was Wally Sheil?

Walter N. "Wally" Sheil was an American education administrator and politician from Jersey City, New Jersey who served in the New Jersey State Senate as a Democrat from 1978 to 1982, and ran as Republican candidate for Sarasota County, Florida Commissioner in 1996.

Sheil attended Saint Peter's College in Jersey City where he played basketball with future Mayor of Jersey City, and sometime political ally, Thomas F. X. Smith. He graduated with a BS in 1950. Sheil went on to play for the Carbondale Aces of the American Basketball League. Sheil received an MA from Seton Hall University in 1952. He was Director of Admissions at Saint Peter's from 1957 to 1962 and Director of Continuing Education at Jersey City State College from 1967 to 1977. Sheil was President of Hudson County Community College from 1977 to 1981 and from 1987 to 1989. Sheil also served in the U.S. Army as Personnel Psychologist.

While in the State Senate, Sheil was stripped of his assignments on the Judiciary Committee for supporting Republican Thomas Kean in the 1981 Gubernatorial election. He filed a lawsuit against Senate President Joseph P. Merlino for the removal.